Fougasse

A fougasse is a flat loaf that looks vaguely like a snow shoe or a leaf. It can be made with any of the basic doughs, such as basic white bread or sourdough bread. To make it, prepare a basic dough and let it ferment until it has doubled in volume. Punch it down and shape it by pulling on the ends and by rolling over it with a rolling pin until you have an oval 12 inches long and 9 inches wide in the center. With a sharp paring knife, make six 2-inch slits in the dough, radiating diagonally from the center of the loaf. Let proof, either in a proof box or covered with plastic wrap, for about 40 minutes, or until about 50 percent thicker. Stretch open the slits with a finger to keep them from closing up in the oven. Bake in a 450°F oven for about 25 minutes.