Lindas Fantabulous Italian Bread A B M Recipes

LINDA'S FANTABULOUS ITALIAN BREAD A B M

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 375 while dough rises. If you are using a pizza stone it is important to have it screaming hot.
• Put all ingredients **except** last 5 into bread machine on DOUGH cycle. Run through the entire dough cycle, turn off the machine and start it over so you get two kneading and rising cycles. It will make a nice difference in the loaf.
• Put dough onto a silpat which is on a cookie sheet with no edges and punch down, letting it rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Shape into a rectangle on the silpat.
• Roll the dough from the long side, pinching it as you roll to prevent it from unrolling.
• Gently move the loaf to one side of the pan.
• Sprinkle the silpat with cornmeal and position the loaf 'kitty cornered' in the pan, with the seam side down.
• Let rise in a warm spot covered with a damp towel for 30 to 40 minutes until it is doubled (I use my proofing oven on the lowest setting, about 100 degrees.
• With a very sharp knife, carefully slash the loaf in 4 places.
• Mix the egg white with a drop of water and gently brush it on the loaf. Wait 5 minutes and gently brush it again.
• Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds (I really cover the loaf heavily and it looks so beautiful when it comes out of the oven).
• Put the silpat onto your baking stone quickly by sliding it off of the baking sheet which has no sides. If you are not using a stone just put the pan in the oven as usual.
• Toss 6 ice cubes onto the bottom of your oven and shut the door. Repeat 10 minutes later with 6 more ice cubes.
• Bake a total of 35 to 40 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. 15. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.
• Wonderful with pasta.
• Leftovers make great toast!

ITALIAN BREAD USING A BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• 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. Select dough cycle; press Start.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Form dough into two loaves. Place the loaves seam side down on a cutting board generously sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise, until doubled in volume about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush the risen loaves with egg mixture. Make a single long, quick cut down the center of the loaves with a sharp knife. Gently shake the cutting board to make sure that the loaves are not sticking. If they stick, use a spatula or pastry knife to loosen. Slide the loaves onto a baking sheet with one quick but careful motion.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

LINDA'S BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients. Combine eggs, oil and bananas, add to dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Bake in loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool. Serve warm or room temperature.