Italian Bread

By LLRedd

Ingredients

• 2 dry yeast pkgs.
• 2 1/2 C warm water
• 1 T salt
• 7 1/4 - 7 3/4 C flour
• corn meal
• 1 egg white + 2 T water

Preparation

Step 1

1. Soften yeast in water, stir in 2 C flour. Beat well. Add salt, stir in 4 1/2 C flour to make fairly stiff dough. Turn out to floured surface. Cover and let rest 10 mins. Knead 15-25 minutes, kneading in remaining flour.

2. Place dough in greased bowl and let rise til doubled. Punch dough down, and let rise again until doubled.

3. Shape dough into 2 loaves and place on baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Score tops 3 or 4 times. Brush egg white mixture all over top. Let rise.

4. Bake 375 deg for 30 minutes, brushing again with egg white after first 10 minutes. Putting a pan of water on bottom rack makes a crispier crust.