English Muffin Bread

Steps

• Batter: Stir the yeast and sugar into the warm milk and water and let stand until foamy.
  ⏱ Start 8 min timer
• Batter: Whisk the baking soda, salt, and flour into the yeast mixture and beat hard with a wooden spoon for a full 2 minutes.
  ⏱ Start 2 min timer

  Tip: This beating is doing the work kneading would in a stiffer dough. Don't shortcut it — a weak beat gives a flatter, tighter crumb.

• Pan: Grease a 9x5 loaf pan and coat it with the cornmeal. Scrape the batter in — it will look more like a thick cake batter than bread dough — and smooth the top.
• Rise: Cover and let rise until it reaches the top of the pan.
  ⏱ Start 45 min timer
• Bake: Bake at 190°C (375°F) until deeply golden and hollow-sounding when tapped.
  ⏱ Start 25 min timer
• Cool: Cool at least 20 minutes before slicing — it's more delicate warm than a kneaded loaf.
  ⏱ Start 20 min timer