Pan Bread with Compressed Yeast Sponge

Ingredients

• 2 pails (about 8 cups) water
• 5 ounces yeast
• 1 pound coarse sea salt
• ½ pound sugar
• ½ pound lard

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 pail of water and the yeast. Let it sit at 85°F (29°C) until bubbly.

2. In another bowl, mix the remaining pail of water with the salt, sugar, and lard at 75°F (24°C).

3. Combine both mixtures and mix the dough well.

4. Allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size.

5. Divide the dough into portions and shape them into loaves.

6. Place the loaves in pans and let them rise again until doubled.

7. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until golden brown.