Week 7: Pita Bread

Now before you start thinking that I've forgotten about the "one baking project per week" plan... let me say this: the baking was done last week Wednesday. I work on Thursdays and Fridays. We went camping Saturday and Sunday. Today is Monday. Today is when I have time to post last week's baking project. Back off, okay? The baking got done. :)

When I committed to baking one new recipe per week for a year, I didn't fool myself into believing that every week would produce delicious, "oh my goodness this is the best thing I've ever made" results. Week 7 is the reason I am glad that I wasn't lulled into a false sense of baking nirvana.

Ordinarily, I love pita bread. I'd rather have a sandwich where the fixin's are stuffed into a tasty little pocket than smushed between two slices of mushy bread. This pita bread is not what I have become accustomed to. They're "okay". That's all. Nothing spectacular. But I promised to bring it all to you, good and bad, so here ya go!

Pita Bread

Makes 12

Recipe from: Better Recipes

3 1/2 - 4 c. flour

1 pkg. dry yeast

1 1/4 c. warm water (115-120 degrees)

2 Tsbp. oil

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. sugar

In mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 c. flour and yeast. Combine warm water, oil, salt and sugar. Add to yeast; mix for 30 seconds. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. By hand, stir in enough flour to make a moderately-stiff dough. knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Cover and let rise 45 minutes. Punch down and divide into 12 pieces. Shape into balls; cover. Let rest for 10 minutes.

Roll into 5-inch rounds. Roll out from center, not back and forth (I used my hand to flatten the dough-- why use the rolling pin for something so small?). Cover and let rise 20-30 minutes.

Put 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

That's about it. The pitas do puff up a bit when they bake, so if you cut them in half it would be possible to put sandwich stuff into them, but the flavor just isn't there for me. I'm sure if you added honey and used whole wheat flour it may improve the flavor, but to be honest, I'm not that interested. Sorry this is kind of a downer of a post, but I have to be honest. And honestly, if I were you, I wouldn't bother with this one.

Guess they can't all be winners. Better luck next time.