Italian Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 6 cups unbleached flour
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter

Recipe

• 1 turn on oven light. close oven door (this warm oven will proof your bread--do not turn on the oven!).
• 2 dissolve yeast in 1 cup water. let stand 5 minutes.
• 3 dissolve salt in 2 cups water.
• 4 place 5 cups flour in large bowl.
• 5 add liquids. mix well.
• 6 add enough remaining flour to make a workable dough.
• 7 knead on lightly floured board for 10 minutes or till dough is smooth and elastic.
• 8 add oil to large, clean bowl.
• 9 tip bowl to oil bottom and sides.
• 10 place dough in bowl, then flip it, so oiled side is on top.
• 11 place bowl in lighted oven.
• 12 close door and allow dough to proof till double--about 1 hour.
• 13 remove from oven and place on lightly floured bread board.
• 14 punch down.
• 15 divide into 2 pieces.
• 16 roll into 2 oblong loaves.
• 17 grease a 10 x 15 (approx. size)cookie pan.
• 18 place on greased cookie sheet.
• 19 return to lighted oven to rise till double, about 30-45 minutes.
• 20 make 1 long slash about 1" deep and almost the entire length of each loaf.
• 21 bake at 375 degrees 50-60 minutes, till loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
• 22 remove from oven and butter tops generously, using 1 t. butter.
• 23 allow to cool on wire rack.
• 24 these freeze well for up to 2 weeks.