Basic Bread Loaf, Baked in a Casserole

This is our everyday bread, which I like to bake inside a heated clay casserole or Dutch oven. The baking dish makes a big difference in the texture of the loaf. A Dutch oven keeps the moisture inside longer, and so the bread develops a nice chewy crumb and a thick crust. Preparing the dough the night before and leaving it to rise slowly in the refrigerator allows the bread to develop a fuller taste, even when made with instant yeast. I usually keep a piece of dough in the refrigerator to m