Apple Country Bread

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon yeast
1 tablespoons warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup sparkling cider or apple juice
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon AP flour
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon bread flour
1/3 cup rye flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup granny smith apple, peeled and finely chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar and set aside until it foams. Add the juice, flours, and salt and knead until smooth. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Bring dough to room temperature for a few hours. Roll out the dough and push some of the apple, cinnamon, and walnut into it. Fold over and repeat until all the apples are incorporated. Cover and allow to rise for 2-3 hours.

Deflate the dough and shape into a ball. Transfer to a cornmeal lined parchment paper. Cover and allow to rise for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a baking stone and prepare a water bath in the oven. Cut a few slits into the dough and place into the oven.

Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, then turn down to 400 and bake for another 20 minutes, spraying the dough with water often until it is dark brown.