Suomalaisruisleipa

Description
Finnish rye bread. Will have a more or less sour taste, depending whether it is made with beer, buttermilk, potato water, or milk, in that order.

Ingredients

 * 1½ cup beer, buttermilk, milk, or potato water
 * 2 tbsp butter or margarine
 * 1 tsp salt
 * 1 tbsp dry yeast
 * ½ cup warm water
 * 1 tbsp Sugar
 * 2 cup dark rye flour or light rye flour or rye meal (rye flour with bran)
 * 3½ to 4 cups unbleached white flour

Directions

 * 1) Heat 1½ cups liquid to lukewarm.  Stir in the butter and salt. Set aside to cool.
 * 2) Dissolve the yeast in the warm water (a temperature comfortable on the inside of the wrist) with the sugar.  Let stand for 5 minutes or until the yeast bubbles.
 * 3) Stir the yeast mixture into the cooled liquid.
 * 4) Add the rye flour and beat until smooth.  Add the white flour, a cup at a time, stirring after each addition until enough is added to make a stiff dough.
 * 5) Dust a work surface with white flour. Form the dough into a rough ball, place it on the work surface, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rest for 15 minutes.
 * 6) Generously butter a large bowl or pot.
 * 7) Adding only as much flour as necessary to prevent sticking, knead the bread dough until smooth, about 5 minutes.  (The gluten in rye is more fragile than in wheat.  It needs a resting time to recuperate and reform and does not need as lengthy or vigorous a kneading).
 * 8) Form the dough into a smooth ball and place it in a buttered bowl, turning it to coat all sides with the butter. Cover it and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
 * 9) Punch the dough down, gently knead it for one minute, and divide it into two parts.
 * 10) Form each half into a round loaf and place the loaves in two lightly buttered 9-inch round cake pans or on a large, buttered baking sheet.
 * 11) Press a hole through the center of each loaf to give it a traditional shape if you wish. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in size, about ½ hour.
 * 12) Preheat the oven to 375°F.
 * 13) Brush the loaves with water and gently puncture the surface all over with the tines of a fork, in a design if you wish.
 * 14) Bake for about 30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
 * 15) While it is hot, brush it with butter to glaze, and then let it cool on a rack.