Italian Bread

• warm water3 cups
• yeast1 tablespoon
• sugar↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• salt↗1 tablespoon
• unbleached flour↗6 -8 cups

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Dissolve the sugar in the water, then sprinkle in the yeast, stir an wait 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Add the salt and 4 cups of flour and beat for three minutes.

3. 3

   Add in 2-3 more cups of flour, stir or knead.

4. 4

   Add more flour until you have enough to make a good stiff dough.

5. 5

   Knead until smooth and soft.

6. 6

   Grease a good sized bowl and turn the bread over in it, lightly greasing all sides.

7. 7

   Cover with plastic wrap.

8. 8

   Rise until doubled in a warm place.

9. 9

   Punch down and divide into three parts.

10. 10

    Knead each, return to bowl, cover again and let rise.

11. 11

    When doubled, pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.

12. 12

    Knead gently and shape the dough into three oblong shapes.

13. 13

    Place on a large, lightly greased baking sheet which has been sprinkled with corn meal Cover with a cloth and let rise until doubled.

14. 14

    Just before baking, score bread with a sharp knife very lightly down the middle then mist bread with water.

15. 15

    Turn the bread and mist every 5 minutes.

16. 16

    Bake 20 min or so or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.