Peppy's Pita Bread

I have been wanting to make pita bread for a really long time.  Usually when I try it, it doesn't puff up like it is supposed to and turns out to be more like a flat bread.  I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, and it was way easy and tasty.  We had fun watching every single pita puff up perfectly in the oven.  I can't wait to stuff them with something yummy!

Ingredients:

1 1/8 cups warm water (110 degrees F)

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:

1.  Place all ingredients in bread pan of your bread machine, select Dough setting and start.  When dough has risen long enough, machine will beep.  (I made my in my Kitchenaid because I don't have a bread machine, and just mixed it until it formed a soft dough, then let it rise until double in size.)

2.  Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.  Gently roll and stretch dough into a 12 inch rope.  With a sharp knife, divide dough into 8 pieces.  Roll each into a smooth ball.  With a rolling pin, roll each ball into a 6 to 7 inch circle.  Set aside on a lightly floured counter top.  Cover with a towel.  Let pitas rise about 30 minutes until slightly puffy.

3.  Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.  Place 2 or 3 pitas on a wire cake rack.  Place cake rack directly on oven rack.  Bake pitas 4 to 5 minutes until puffed and tops begin to brown.  Remove from oven immediately place pitas in a sealed brown paper bag or cover them with a damp kitchen towel until soft.  Once pitas are softened, either cut in half or split top edge for half or whole pitas.  They can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for 1 or 2 months.