Tuscan-Style Bread with Herbs

By KimberlyB

Ingredients

• 2 tsp yeast
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning, (or 1/2 tsp dried oregano, basil, marjoram, and thyme)
• 1 tsp salt (optional; traditional Tuscan bread is made without)
• 1 1/2 c (12 oz) water
• 3 1/4 c (13 7/8 oz) Unbleached Bread Flour

Details

Adapted from kingarthurflour.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. combine all of the dough ingredients, and mix and knead by hand, mixer or in the bread machine on the dough cycle.

2. Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until it's puffy though not necessarily doubled.

3. After the first rise, deflate the dough and form into a round or a long loaf, and place on a lightly-greased or parchment-lined sheet pan, or on a piece of parchment paper on a peel. Cover the loaf with greased plastic wrap and let rise for 30 to 45 minutes (the bread will rise faster if not salt is used).

4. While the loaf is rising the second time, preheat the oven to 375'. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.

5. When the bread is almost doubled, remove the plastic, slash the top in a decorative pattern, and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the center measures 190' when measured with an instant read thermometer. Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes before slicing.