SOUR DOUGH SULTANA BREAD

400 grams sour dough starter
400 grams water
800 grams plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 heaped teaspoon bread improver
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon mixed spice
2 tablespoons cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon dried yeast

375 grams sultanas


IF YOU HAVE A BREAD MACHINE, place all ingredients except sultanas,
in the order listed and set on the dough setting.  after it's been
kneading for 10 minutes, add the sultanas.

when machine has finished, remove the dough from the bread machine
and tip dough onto floured board.

knead till smooth then divide in half. place into 2 non stick loaf tins.

cover tins with a tea towel and place into a warm place to rise for 1 hour.

heat oven to 250 c.  cook bread for 10 minutes on this temp. then reduce heat
to 200 c. for  20 minutes.

remove from oven and glaze if desired.

GLAZE
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons boiled water

stir together until sugar is dissolved.  brush over top of hot bread.

IF NO BREAD MACHINE, place all ingredients except sultanas, in the order
listed, into  a large bowl.

mix until all comes together and all ingredients are well combined.

knead well until dough is smooth and elastic (you can use an electric mixer with dough
hook to do this as well)

knead in sultanas.

place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in a
warm spot to double in size.

when risen, punch down, divide in half and place into 2 non stick loaf tins.

cover tins with a tea towel and put back in to a warm spot for 1
hour to rise again.

heat oven to 250c. cook bread on this setting for 10 minutes then reduce temp
to 200 c. and cook for another 20 minutes.

TO MAKE A SOUR DOUGH STARTER...

DAY 1  in a large bowl, place 113 grams plain flour and 113 grams water.
stir till combined.
cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot.

every 12 hours add another 113 grams flour and 113 grams water and mix well.

do this for 5 days.   it should be bubbly and smell sour.

make some bread, discard what you don't need but keep 113 grams.

you keep this starter going by starting at day 1 again