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 III

Steps:

• Add ingredients according to the manufacturer's directions.
• Be sure to use "crisp" bread setting and add the egg whites after the rest of the ingredients are moist.

MOM'S ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide in half. Shape each portion into a loaf. Place each loaf seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. With a sharp knife, make 4 shallow slashes across top of each loaf. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

MAMA D'S ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Add the sugar and yeast to the warm water and let proof.
• Stir in 4 cups of flour and beat until smooth. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Beat in the salt and then add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Knead until as soft and smooth as a bambino's behind. Turn in a greased bowl, cover, and let double in size. (I put it in the oven with the light on - perfect rising temperature.)
• Once doubled, punch down and divide into three. Place back in the bowl, cover, and let rise.
• Once doubled again, punch down and form into three fat "footballs." Grease heavy cookie sheets and sprinkle with corn meal. Place the bread on the sheets, cover with a towel, and let rise.
• Once risen, mist with water and place in a preheated 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) oven. Mist loaves with water and turn occasionally while they bake. Bread is done when golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

FANTABULOUS ZUCCHINI BREAD

Steps:

• Sift all the dry ingredients together and toss the nuts in the dry ingredients to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf and set aside.
• Beat the eggs well with a whisk in a large bowl and add the sugar and oil alternately beginning and ending with the sugar. Try to do it in two or three additions. Str in the vanilla.
• Add the dry ingredients and stir only till it comes together. If you stir too much you will have a flat bread. Fold in the grated zucchini.
• Pour into 2 prepared loaf pans and bake in a preheated 350* oven for 1 hour. Cool in pans on a rack for 10 minutes and then remove from pans and finish cooling on the rack. Regular muffins take about 25 minutes at 350*.
• To freeze: wrap loaf in plastic wrap and freeze solid. Remove from the freezer and vacuum seal them. They keep about 6 months frozen.