Easy Italian Bread

This is my family's favorite bread when we decide to have paninis for lunch !!!

• Ready In: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 slices

Ingredients

• 1  cup water (120 to 130 F)
• 2  teaspoons sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 3  cups bread flour
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. Place all the ingredients in bread machine pan. Process on dough setting.
2. At the end of the cycle, remove dough from machine; place it on parchment paper. Punch down dough. Shape dough into baguete-shaped loaf about 12 inches long.
3. Place loaf on cornmeal-coated cookie sheet and with sharp knife, make 1 deep lenghtwise slash in top of loaf. Cover; let rise in warm place for about 1 hour.
4. Brush loaf with egg white, if desired. Heat oven to 375º F. Bake loaf for 25 to 35 minutes.
5. Variation: You can add 1 tsp dark sesame oil to the recipe if you desire. Sprinkle the loaf with same sesame seeds before putting it in the oven.