March 16: Homemade Pita Bread

1 1/4 cups warm water
1 Tbs. sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

Add all ingredients in order in a bread machine and process on dough cycle. By hand: Dissolve yeast and sugar in water and wait two minutes until bubbly. Melt butter and add to yeast. Pour yeast mixture into flour and salt. Knead 8 minutes until elastic. Let rise in warm place until doubled, one hour.

Divide dough into ten balls. Let rest fifteen minutes. Roll each ball into an 8 inch circle. Place two on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip. Bake for 3 more minutes until browned on both sides. (It is fun to watch them puff up in the oven!!) Repeat with remaining circles. Makes 10 pitas. To slice, let pita cool and cut diagonally. A pocket should be formed within.

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