Making bread at home doesn’t have to be intimidating or involve a long list of ingredients. In fact, you can make a delicious loaf with just four simple ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. Here’s how to do it.

Ingredients:

– 4 cups of all-purpose flour

– 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast

– 2 teaspoons of salt

– 1 1/2 cups of warm water

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt.

2. In a small bowl, stir the yeast into the warm water and let it sit for a few minutes until it’s frothy.

3. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough begins to come together.

4. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

5. Place the dough back into the bowl, cover it with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place for an hour or until it has doubled in size.

6. Once risen, knock back the dough by gently punching it down and then shape it into a loaf.

7. Place the loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let it rise again for another 30 minutes to an hour.

8. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius).

9. Optionally, make shallow cuts on top of your loaf with a knife for decoration and to help the bread expand while baking.

10. Place your bread into the oven, optionally with a pan of water on the bottom rack to create steam which helps develop a crispy crust.

11. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

12. Remove from oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Enjoy your freshly baked loaf as is, with butter, jam, or use it as the starting point for any number of delicious sandwiches or meals.

Note: Bread making is as much an art as it is science – don’t be discouraged if your first loaf isn’t perfect. Adjustments to flour type, yeast amount, water temperature, kneading time, and rising time can all affect the final product. Happy baking!