Finally! How to make a well.

December 19, 2010


My amazing sister-in-law Jane was SO lucky to spend a semester in Italy learning how to cook!  Well, probably learning other stuff too.  But cooking in ITALY!  Wow.  She taught me the proper way to make a well in baking.  Yay!  I’d only tried it a couple of times, but it never seemed to work very well.  Because I wasn’t doing it quite right.  Mystery unfolded.  Thanks Janers!!

 Don’t make a big pile of flour with an indentation in the middle.  That was my big mistake.  Make a ring of flour!

 Pour in the warm water and sprinkle in yeast and a pinch of sugar to activate it.  Sprinkle remaining ingredients around the top of the well (sugar, salt, etc.).

 Add a little bit of flour and mix into the water.

Add a little more at a time, and mix.  Just use your fingertips to mix!  Another secret no one tells you.
Keep mixing in more flour with your fingertips…

Bring flour closer to your forming dough, if needed.  Keep mixing in flour with your fingertips.

 Once your dough starts coming together, then use your hands!

Knead your dough for about ten minutes.
Divide in half, and wrap both dough balls in a large paper towel (if it’s good enough for Italians, why not?).  Let rest for about 10 minutes, and then press or roll out into pizza dough crust.
Then have your wonderful sister-in-law show you how to make authentic Italian pizza with shredded potatoes, olive oil, and two different cheeses.  Different, fun, and yummy!
Tomato pizza…so good!  They put the cheese in mounds, and then you just cut it into portions keeping the cheese in the middle of each piece.

 Thanks Janers, you are the best!  I can’t wait for my next lesson!


By Becky

Becky is a mom to 4 kiddos and wife to an awesome guy. She's a food fanatic and loves creating and improving recipes. Bread is her weakness and delicious food is her passion!

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