Be Keepers

Homemade Pita Bread

Traditional Pita
MAKES 12 PITAS

1 pkg. active dry yeast
2 Tbls. honey
1 tsp. salt
2 cups hot water (about 125*F)
5 to 6 cups unbleached enriched white flour

In large bowl combine yeast, honey, salt, and hot water - stir well.
Add 4 cups flour 1 cup at a time, mixing in each cup well with wooden spoon. (this is where I substituted 1 cup whole wheat flour)
Spread 1 cup flour over kneading board and scrape dough from bowl onto board and knead in.
Add as much of remaining flour as required to make a medium-stiff dough, then knead a few more minutes.
Drip a tsp. of oil into scraped out mixing bowl and drop dough ball inside, turning to oil all sides.
Cover with dry towel (I used saran wrap) and set to rise in very warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour.
When dough has doubled in size, punch down and knead gently to release any big bubbles.
Set oven to 450*F. (in this book the author tells you not to preheat the oven but set it at temp. just before baking...apparently, this give the bread a few minutes of rise time before the yeast is killed)
Turn risen dough onto lightly floured board, shape into round and cut into 12 equal pieces.  (like a pie)
Roll and shape each piece into ball and place on floured board.  Cover with towel (or saran wrap) and let rest for 10 minutes.
Grease large baking sheet.
With palm of hand, pat, press, and pound dough ball until flattened into round about 1/4 inch thick.  (I tried patting, pressing, and pounding, but ended up using my rolling pin which worked better for me)
Gently lay on greased baking sheet.  (I fit 4 on a sheet but I have large square air-bake sheets)
Put baking sheet directly on the bottom of the oven and bake about 5 minutes, or until bottom color shows dark brown.  They will puff up in the oven.
Serve straight from the oven.
If wanted for sandwiches, cool briefly on wire rack, then cut in half and open to insert filling.
Repeat for remaining pita rounds.  Do not regrease baking sheet.

From the book "Bake Your Own Bread" by Floss and Stan Dworkin,

<em>Untitled Comment</em>

07:25, 7 February 2009 .. Posted by morningsunshine

hmmmm.... I have pita recipe I love, but I must try yours, as it has honey and not sugar.

Also, could you pretty please post the hummus recipe? I am looking for a good one, and so is someone else who posted - I think yesterday - looking for one.
It was
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/rkgmtne/126702/?#c189131 asking for the recipe.

Edited by morningsunshine on 7 February 2009 at 07:29