Notes: First and Final Rising of the Dough:
I grease the bowl to prevent the dough from sticking onto both the bowl and the plastic sheets. The oil also keeps the surface of the dough moist; otherwise, the dough will form a thin crust that won't dissolve and blend into the dough; the texture of the finished bread isn't as uniform and will contain noticeable bits of hard dough. The plastic helps to retain heat, as well as keep the comforter, or blanket, (if using) from getting greased up by the oil.
The prepared dough in the bowl, or baking pans, can be placed to rise in between a thick, yet light comforter or a blanket, which is set on a bed: this technique can take between 2 - 4 hours, or longer, depending on the room temperature. I find that the average room temperature, which is about 70-80'F., isn't warm enough and takes too long for the dough to rise, which isn't convenient. A better way to proof dough, without wasting time, is to use the oven as a proofing box, which does the same or even better job, in about 2 hours.
I first set an oven rack on the lowest level and then turn the oven on to 500'F., for about 60 - 90 seconds; then I turn it off. I then place a room thermometer and the prepared bowl, or pans, of dough on the rack. I close the oven door and turn on the pilot light. I check the temperature and if it's too high, I then open the door a bit to let some of the hot air escape. If it's too low, I simply turn the oven on and off, for another 20 seconds or so, long enough to bring up the temperature.
Throughout the proofing time, I also check and adjust the temperature if needed. I make sure that the temperature doesn't exceed 140'F.; otherwise, the butter, or shortening, starts to melt and separate from the dough, and the dough starts to cook; you don't want that.
I find that the short burst of heat, at first, as well as the subtle generating heat from the pilot light can maintain a constant temperature for 2 hours to properly proof dough. I just make sure that the oven is empty before I'm ready to preheat it to bake the "Goods".
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