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
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"
