Pita Bread

Submitted by: Talia

"You can either bake this bread or fry it. For variety, I like to make four of each."

Original recipe yield: 8 pitas.

Prep Time:30 MinutesCook Time:20 MinutesReady In:50 MinutesServings:8 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup pastry flour

1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1 teaspoon active dry yeast

1 tablespoon applesauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar

1 tablespoon olive oil

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DIRECTIONS:

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water.

Combine the all-purpose flour, pastry flour and salt in a bowl. Stir in the yeast mixture and applesauce and knead. Dough shouldn't be sticky, but it shouldn't be dry either. If too sticky add 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour till you get the right consistency. If too dry, add 1 tablespoons of water at a time till you get the right consistency.

Roll out into a rope and cut into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and roll out till it's anywhere from a 6 to 8 inch circle

There are two ways to cook pita bread. The flavor is a bit different with both.

To Bake Pita:

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) and put a pita on a wire cake rack. Toss in the rack and cook for 3 minutes or until the bread stops puffing up. When you take it out, smash down the pita (Careful, its hot!) and quickly put it in a plastic freezer bag.

To Fry Pita:

Heat olive oil in a skillet over high heat. When almost smoking, place a pita in the pan and cook for a few minutes on each side, till brown spots begin to appear. It should look something like a tortilla when you're done. Put in a plastic bag once it has cooled a bit.