Pita Bread

Total Time: 46 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 41 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 cup shortening, softened
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/4 cups water

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl soften yeast in warm water.
• 2 add 2 cups flour, shortening and salt.
• 3 beat at low speed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping bowl.
• 4 beat 3 minutes on medium.
• 5 stir in as much remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon.
• 6 turn onto a lightly floured work surface.
• 7 knead in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough that is smooth and elastic.
• 8 cover, and let rest in a warm place about 15 minutes.
• 9 divide into 12 equal portions.
• 10 roll each piece with floured hands into a smooth ball.
• 11 cover with a damp cloth, let rest 10 minutes.
• 12 using fingers, flatten balls.
• 13 cover, let rest 10 minutes.
• 14 on a well floured surface lightly roll one piece of dough at a time into a circle 6 inches in diameter, turning dough over once.
• 15 do not puncture or tear dough.
• 16 (work with enough flour so dough does not stick) place on baking sheet.
• 17 bake one sheet at a time, in a 450 f oven about 3 minutes or until dough is puffed and softly set.
• 18 turn with a spatula, and bake 2 more minutes until dough is light brown.
• 19 repeat with remaining dough, baking one batch before uncovering and rolling the next.
• 20 to serve, slice bread crosswise and fill the pockets with a filling or cut into wedges and pan fry to a crisp for dipping.