Measure into large bowl:
3 cups warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp. Yeast
1 1/2 Tbsp coarse salt
Let sit a few mins while yeast activates. Use a hefty
spoon and mix in
6 2/3 cups flour.
Stir (don't knead) for a min or two until the flour is
well incorporated (can use mixer with dough hook or Bosch). It will be quite dry. Cover loosely and let sit 2 hours (or
up to 12 hours). Heat oven to 450 with an empty cookie sheet or broiler pan on
bottom rack, and another rack set to the middle of the oven.
Divide dough into 3 pieces (it will be quite sticky- I use
a plastic spoon to handle it) Drop dough into a bowl of flour to coat all
sides, then tuck edges under to make a round loaf. Use parchment, Silpat liner,
or a dusting of flour on a cookie sheet and place all 3 loaves on pan in a
"v". Place pan in oven on middle rack, then pour 2 cups hot water
onto the empty sheet on the bottom rack. Close oven door quickly to trap steam
in. Bake for 30 mins.
