Swedish Limpa - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. dark beer
1/3 c. honey
1 Tbsp. dry yeast
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. anise seed
1 tsp. caraway seed
1 tsp. grated orange zest
1 1/2 c. rye flour
3 Tbsp. soft butter
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 c. unbleached flour
small amount of cornmeal

Preparation

Heat beer and honey briefly in a saucepan.
Pour into a large mixing bowl.
When lukewarm (100\u00b0 to 105\u00b0) sprinkle on the yeast and let it dissolve.
Stir in salt, seeds, zest, rye flour and butter.
Beat in unbleached flour (3 to 3 1/2 cups) until you have a workable dough.
Hand knead for 10 minutes, adding flour as needed.
Place dough in a large buttered bowl to rise until doubled.
Punch the dough down and knead briefly.
Divide dough in halves and shape each half into a tight ball.
Place dough balls on a large, lightly greased, cornmeal dusted cookie sheet.
Dust the loaves with cornmeal and cover loosely with plastic.
Allow to rise again.
Test by pressing the dough with your finger, if the surface bounces back, it is not ready.
Make two 1/2 inch deep slits on the tops of the loaves with a sharp knife.
Bake at 375\u00b0 for 50 minutes.
Loaves are done when they are brown and crusty and when they make a hollow sound when you tap them on the underside with your finger.
Cool on a rack.