Honey Bread

Ingredients

• 1.5 tablespoons yeast dry
• 0.3 cup canola oil 
• 7 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.8 cup honey 
• 1 tablespoon rosemary chopped
• 1 tablespoon salt 
• 2.5 cups water 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• wire rack
• plastic wrap
• loaf pan

Directions

1. Toast the rosemary in a small sauté pan over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
2. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine the oil, yeast, and warm water and stir to dissolve the yeast.
4. Let sit for 5 minutes, or until foamy.
5. Combine the flour and salt and mound in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle. Slowly pour the dissolved yeast into the well, working in the flour with your fingertips, then knead the dough until a ball forms. Knead in the honey and toasted rosemary.
6. Put the dough in a large oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth or oiled plastic wrap and let rise to 1 1/2 times the original size, about 1 hour.
7. Grease two 9 x 4-inch loaf pans. Punch down the dough and transfer to a floured work surface. Knead for 5 minutes. Divide the dough in half and shape into loaves.
8. Place in the prepared pans, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for 20 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
10. Place the pans in the oven and bake until the tops are golden, about 25 to 30 minutes. Invert the pans onto a cooling rack and let sit for 5 minutes, then remove the pans and let cool.
11. Reprinted with permission from The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa by by Marcus Samuelsson, (C) 2006, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.