The Very Best Italian Bread!

KC_Cooker's Note:

My friend Leslie passed this recipe on to me. It makes 2 loaves, which is always wonderful because you can share a fresh baked loaf of wonderful bread with a friend. Easy to make using both your bread machine and your oven.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 loaves

• 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 1⁄3; cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
• 1 (¼ ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal

Directions:

1. Place flour, brown sugar, warm water, salt, olive oil and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Select dough cycle; press Start.
3. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
4. Form dough into two loaves.
5. Place the loaves seam side down on a cutting board generously sprinkled with cornmeal.
6. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise, until doubled in volume about 40 minutes.
7. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
8. In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water.
9. Brush the risen loaves with egg mixture.
10. Make a single long, quick cut down the center of the loaves with a sharp knife.
11. Gently shake the cutting board to make sure that the loaves are not sticking.
12. If they stick, use a spatula or pastry knife to loosen.
13. Slide the loaves onto a baking sheet with one quick but careful motion.
14. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Reviews

[Joe's Chef]

This is the best Italian Bread. I will never buy another loaf in the store. Easy and delicious, thanks for posting.

[BluEyedCookette]

My oh my this is some great bread! I made it to have with some homemade soup for dinner. Great heated in the oven then slathered with butter!

[shalalala]

I made this last night and it came out AMAZINGLY! I don't have a bread maker so I made it by hand and used quick-rise yeast. I made one loaf of bread with sesame seeds on top (sprinkled on after the egg wash) and then I made breadsticks with the rest! The breadsticks were long and narrow; before cooking I brushed with the egg-wash and sprinkled with kosher salt. Immediately when they came out of the oven, I brushed them again but this time with melted butter - it tasted wonderful! I'll add the pictures.