Linda's Fantabulous Italian Bread a B M

Name: Linda's Fantabulous Italian Bread a B M
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Yield: 1 huge loaf, 24 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups water, plus; 1 tablespoon water (110 degrees or so); 1 egg; 1 egg yolk; 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw) or 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 tablespoon honey; 2 teaspoons kosher salt (important to use kosher salt); 2 tablespoons oil (or melted butter or combination of both); 4 cups bread machine flour (I use KA); 1 teaspoon gluten; 2 1/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast (or one package active yeast); 2 tablespoons cornmeal; 1 egg white; 1 tablespoon ice water; 2 -3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds; 12 ice cubes

Submitted by Secret Agent

"After trying a few other Italian bread recipes I decided to adapt my old one to more modern methods. It is even better than doing it all by hand since the dough is handled less. Use a silpat when working with this dough since it is a little sticky."

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photo by Secret Agent

Ready In:: 3hrs 20mins
Ingredients:: 16
Yields:: 1 huge loaf
Serves:: 24

ingredients

1 ¹⁄₂ cups water, plus
1 tablespoon water (110 degrees or so)
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw) or 1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons kosher salt (important to use kosher salt)
2 tablespoons oil (or melted butter or combination of both)
4 cups bread machine flour (I use KA)
1 teaspoon gluten
2 ¹⁄₄ teaspoons bread machine yeast (or one package active yeast)
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 egg white
1 tablespoon ice water
2 -3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
12 ice cubes

directions

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!

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Reviews

I put extra sesame seeds on after I slashed the tops and it is great!

Meat And Potatoes G

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Secret Agent

Hello Zaars and Zaarinas! Thank all of you who tried my 'memory' recipes and left such nice reviews and for taking such lovely pictures. I do appreciate your comments. My pet peeves about cooking are recipe reviews where the reviewer says, "I made the recipe exactly as written EXCEPT yada yada yada" and I don't like suggestive names or titles such as, "Better Than Sex". I don't know why anyone would eat anything that is 'sinful' or 'decadent' since decadent is described as being decaying. Also, PAP-RI-KA only has 3 syllables. VINAIGRETTE is pronounced vin-a-grette, not vinager-ette. It's mas-car-pone not mars-ca-pone. And I don't like cutesy adult baby talk,,, or metro chic names like delish, nutrish, yummo, sammy, BAM! Oh well, I make as many, or more, faux pas as the next guy especially in ASL! Things that crack me up are: DH Fred from youtube.com Nick, my nephew Fish and Poi song as performed by PoiBoi My possum recipe per the song on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVvL4-srt6U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpbyM8k7e2Q wow this is good! my Doggie Little Yellow Petey Bird on youtube My BFF's. all of them and there are so many! and my little Sister Mary Beth. She has MS and Lupus and a great attitude. <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PAC08Main.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg">

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