Small Loaf Pain De Mie

Total Time: 3 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs 15 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 227 g lukewarm water
• 32 g honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 28 g soft butter
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 390 g unbleached all-purpose flour
• 28 g nonfat dry milk powder

Recipe

• 1 mix all of the ingredients in the order listed, and mix and knead — by hand, or using a stand mixer — to make a smooth dough. it won't be particularly soft nor stiff; it should be smooth and feel bouncy and elastic under your hands.
• 2 place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, or large (8-cup) measuring cup. cover it, and let it rise for 60 to 90 minutes, till it's become quite puffy, though not necessarily doubled in size.
• 3 gently deflate the dough, and shape it into a 9" log. place it in a lightly greased 9" pain de mie pan. cover the top of the pan with plastic wrap, to protect the dough as it rises.
• 4 let the dough rise for about 60 minutes, till it's within about 1/2" of the top edge of the pan. towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°f.
• 5 remove the plastic wrap, and slide the greased lid onto the pan. bake the bread for 25 minutes. remove the lid, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, till it's a rich golden brown. an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center will read 195°f to 200°f if you prefer a lighter-colored crust, tent the loaf with foil as soon as you remove the pan lid.
• 6 remove the bread from the oven, and turn it out onto a rack to cool. when completely cool, wrap in plastic, and store at room temperature.