Italian Bread with Garlic Butter

Italian Bread
Ingredients
7 cups flour
1 tbsp salt
4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups water (110 degrees)

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In large mixer bowl, combine flour and salt.
• In another bowl combine water and yeast let sit for 10 minutes.
• Slowly add the dry mixture, stir until flour makes a very stiff dough.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and very elastic (15-25 minutes).
• Shape into a ball, place dough in lightly oiled bowl turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with cloth and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.(Good time to make Garlic Butter)
• Punch down and turn out onto lightly floured surface.
• Divide dough in half, cover with bowl and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Roll each half into a rectangle approximately 15x12 inch.
• Beginning at the long side of the rectangle, roll the dough up tightly, sealing as you roll.
• Taper the ends of the loaf.
• Grease 2 baking sheets or sprinkle with flour.
• Place each loaf diagonally seam side down, on baking sheets.
• Make diagonal cuts 2 ½ inches apart (1/8 to ¼ inch deep) on the tops of the loaves.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place till double (about 20-45 minutes).
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, I brushed the top with some water to give nice brown crust.
• Bake 20 minutes longer.
• Cool on a rack.
• Once Bread is done cut open spread on Garlic Butter and reheat at 375 degrees for 10 minutes

Garlic Butter
Ingredients
1/2 cup Margarine
1/4 tsp Italian Spice
1 Tbsp Garlic Minced
1 tsp Garlic Powder

• Cream all ingredients together
• Can be made the night before
• Use at room temperature

Comments:
My eldest son say "this is better than store bought"