Basic Italian Bread

By RoketJSquerl

Ingredients

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup dried potato flakes
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 1/3 cups lukewarm water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 egg beaten with a tablespoon of water for egg wash

Details

Adapted from welcome-home-blog.net

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, stir together all of the dough ingredients till cohesive. Knead the dough for 5 to 8 minutes, until it's smooth and supple, adding more water or flour as needed.

Cover the dough and allow it to rise for 1 hour, or until it's doubled in bulk. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface and divide it into two pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth 16" log. Place the logs into the two wells of a lightly greased Italian bread pan, cover, and let the loaves rise until very puffy, about 1 hour.

Brush the loaves with the egg wash (or spray them with Quick Shine), then sprinkle heavily with sesame seeds. Slash the loaves diagonally, making 3 slashes in each, and immediately put them in the oven. Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for about 25 minutes, until the loaves are golden brown. For the crispiest crust, turn off the oven, prop the door open, and allow the bread to cool in the oven.