Italian Bread

By John W

Italian bread is everyone's favorite lunch and dinner bread. It's surprisingly easy to make at home and tastes extra good slightly warm with a dollop of butter!

Ingredients

• 5 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 packages dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 3/4 cups warm water (120 to 130°F)

Preparation

Step 1

Pre heat oven to 425°F place shallow pan of water in oven.

In mixing bowl thoroughly mix 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and undissolved yeast.
Add butter.

Gradually add warm water to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes with mixer at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally.

Add 1 cup flour. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
Stir in an additional 2 cups of flour to make a stiff dough.

Knead in mixer with dough hook until smooth and elastic (about 8 to 10 minutes).

Cover dough with plastic wrap and then a towel and let it rise for 1 hour.

To make loaves: Divide dough in half.
Roll each half into a 15x10 inch rectangle.
Starting at wide side, roll up tightly; pinch seam to seal.
Taper ends by rolling gently back and forth.
Let rest for 20 min. make 3 or 4 diagonal slits in top of dough

Bake at 425°F for 30 minutes.

To make Steak Rolls: Divide dough into 6- 8 equal pieces.roll each piece into a rectangle 8x5 inches.

Starting with wide side, roll up tightly; pinch seam to seal taper ends.
Place the shaped dough seam side down on greased baking sheets let rest for 20 min (or refrigerate at this point)
Make a slit down center of roll
Bake at 425°F for 12 minutes.