Ingredients
- 3/4 cup warm water (105 degrees F to 115 degrees F)
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil
- Cornmeal
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoons water
- Fresh thyme, sage, oregano, and/or Italian parsley sprigs
Preparation
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl stir together the 3/4 cup water and the yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan heat and stir milk, honey, butter, and salt just until warm (120 degrees F to 130 degrees F) and butter almost melts. Stir milk mixture into yeast mixture until combined. Stir in flour (dough will be sticky). Lightly coat a medium bowl with cooking spray or brush with olive oil; transfer dough to the greased bowl. Lightly coat a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray or brush with olive oil; cover bowl with the greased plastic wrap, coated side down. Chill for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
Using a dough scraper or spatula, carefully loosen dough from bowl and turn out onto a floured surface. Cover with greased plastic wrap. Let stand for 30 minutes.
Grease a baking sheet; sprinkle lightly with cornmeal. Gently shape dough into an 8- to 9-inch oval loaf, lightly flouring the dough as needed. Transfer loaf to the prepared baking sheet, using dough scraper or spatula if necessary. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and place on the middle rack of your unheated oven; place a bowl of warm water on the lower rack. Let rise until nearly double in size (about 1 hour).
Remove loaf from oven; uncover and set aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl whisk together egg white and the 2 teaspoons water; brush over loaf. Arrange herbs on loaf. Brush herbs with egg mixture. Bake 23 to 25 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the loaf registers at about 200 degrees F. (Most breads are done throughout between 195 degrees F and 200 degrees F.) Remove from baking sheet; cool on a wire rack.