Susans Herbed Italian Bread Food

TUSCAN HERB BREAD

Steps:

• Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, sugar and warm water. Gently stir together with handheld whisk. Then, let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
• Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bread flour, salt, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and herbs.
• Turn the mixer onto medium low speed and slowly spoon in the flour mixture.
• Once dough starts to form increase to medium high.
• Continue to work the dough for 5 minutes or until a positive "Window Pane Test" (Pinch a piece of dough off and spread with finger tips holding up to the light. If the dough stretches without breaking and you can see through the center, gluten has formed and its ready to prove.
• Gently place the soft and sticky dough into a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 4 days and up to 7 days for added tangy flavor. The dough will rise and fall while its chilling, and thats totally normal.
• Remove dough bowl from fridge. Press down any excess air with a slightly floured fist. Weigh and divide the dough equally into two balls. Use lightly floured hands to form each half into a round shape.
• Place each half onto a medium sized rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover each dough ball loosely with a lightly floured tea towel and allow to warm to room temperature.
• Dough will then need time to rise again, doubling in size. this could take 1-2 hours depending on temperature of room. The dough will spread more outwardly, looking puffier, rather than growing in height.
• Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
• Now that the dough has doubled again, carefully cut a few slits across the top with a sharp knife and sprinkle with more herbs if desired.
• Place trays with dough side by side on middle rack of the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
• Remove trays from the oven and place the loaves directly onto a wire rack to completely cool.
• Slice the loaves and serve with dipping oil, cheeses, or fruit spreads.

ITALIAN HERB BREAD I

Steps:

• Mix yeast, warm water, and white sugar together in a large bowl. Set aside for five minutes, or until mixture becomes foamy.
• Stir olive oil, salt, herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, cheese, and 3 cups flour into the yeast mixture. Gradually mix in the next three cups of flour. Dough will be stiff.
• Knead dough for 5 to 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and rubbery. Place in an oiled bowl, and turn to cover the surface of the dough with oil. Cover with a damp linen dish towel. Allow to rise for one hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Punch dough down to release all the air. Shape into two loaves. Place loaves on a greased cookie sheet, or into two greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about a 30 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Remove loaves from pan(s), and let cool on wire racks for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

SUSAN'S HERBED ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Place the ingredients into the bread machine in the order given. Turn on bread machine and process according to manufacturer's directions for "dough only" use. Do not bake in the machine.
• 2. When dough has completed its first rising, turn it out into a large oiled bowl, punch down and knead 5-10 strokes. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
• 3. When rising is complete, punch down again and divide into 2 parts. Shape each part into a loaf by rolling each ball into a long log. Make 3-4 diagonal slices across the top of each loaf with a very sharp knife, cutting down about 3/4". Put loaves on a large baking sheet that has been dusted with cornmeal. Place pan in oven, with a pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf. Let rise, uncovered, about 20 minutes.
• 4. After 20 minutes, leaving pan in the oven, set oven to 425 degrees. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until loaves sound hollow when tapped on bottom. Cool on racks.

ITALIAN HERB BREAD

Steps:

• In bread machine pan, place all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. , Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).

RUSTIC ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• BREAD MACHINE DIRECTIONS
• PLACE all ingredients except cornmeal and egg white in bread machine pan according to manufacturer's directions. Process on DOUGH setting.
• SPRINKLE ungreased cookie sheet with cornmeal. At end of dough cycle, remove dough from machine. Place on lightly floured surface. Punch down dough. (If dough is sticky, knead in additional flour before shaping.) Cover dough with clean cloth. Let rest for 15 minutes. Shape dough into baguette-shaped loaf about 12 inches long. Place loaf on cornmeal-coated cookie sheet. Cover. Let rise in warm place (80 degrees to 85 degrees F) for 20 to 25 minutes or until light and doubled in size.
• HEAT oven to 375 degrees F. Make 1 deep lengthwise slash with sharp knife in top of loaf. Brush loaf with egg white. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
• CONVENTIONAL OVEN METHOD
• SPOON flour lightly into measuring cup. Level off. Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast in large bowl. Mix well. Add warm water and oil. Mix well. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead dough 10 minutes or until smooth. Place dough in lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80 degrees to 85 degrees F) for 30 to 40 minutes.
• SPRINKLE ungreased cookie sheet with cornmeal. Punch down dough. Cover dough with inverted bowl and allow to rest on counter 15 minutes. Shape dough into baguette-shaped loaf about 12 inches long. Place dough on cornmeal-coated cookie sheet. Cover. Let rise in warm place 35 to 40 minutes or until doubled in size.
• HEAT oven to 375 degrees F. Make 1 deep lengthwise slash with sharp knife in top of loaf. Brush loaf with egg white. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
• High Altitude (3500 ft.):
• No change.

SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degree F, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal onto a large baking sheet pan.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned and no pink is left, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the basil and parsley, stirring to combine. Cool the sausage mixture completely.
• Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of cornmeal onto a lightly floured surface and place the pizza dough on top of the cornmeal. Roll the dough into a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Spread the cooled sausage mixture over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the sausage. Brush the 1-inch border of the dough with the egg wash. Starting at a long end, roll the dough, jelly roll-style, into a log shape, pinching the edges closed as you roll. Place the bread, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet and brush the top of the bread with the remaining egg wash.
• Bake the sausage bread for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Allow bread to stand 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. To serve, slice the bread into 1-inch pieces and serve warm.
• In a large bowl, combine the water, yeast, sugar, and 1 tablespoon oil and stir to combine. Let sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt, mixing by hand until it is all incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Continue adding the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, working the dough after each addition, until all the flour is incorporated but the dough is still slightly sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Oil a large mixing bowl with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Use as directed.

FOUGASSE

Steps:

• Pour water into a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast into water, and let it stand undisturbed until dissolved. Stir in 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon herbs, sea salt, and 2 tablespoons oil until well blended. Mix in the flour, 1 cup at a time until a thick and somewhat sticky dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Form into a ball, and place into an oiled bowl. Flip the dough to coat the surface. Cover the bowl with a clean dishtowel, and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, and divide in half. Shape into an irregular ovals, about 1 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle cornmeal over 2 baking sheets; transfer dough to pans. Brush each loaf with olive oil, and sprinkle the remaining herbs on top. Make several slashes in the bread, cutting through the dough with a knife. Cover the loaves with clean dishtowels. Let rise again until the dough begins to rise again, about 20 minutes.
• Place baking sheets into a preheated 450 degree F (220 degree C) oven. Quickly splash a small amount of water onto the floor of your oven to create steam, and close the oven door. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

ITALIAN HERB BREAD

Steps:

• Mix yeast, warm water and sugar together in a large bowl. Set aside for five minutes, or until mixture becomes foamy.
• Stir in olive oil, salt, herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, cheese and 3 cups flour into the yeast mixture.
• Gradually mix in next three cups of flour. (Dough will be stiff). Knead for 5 to 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.
• Place in an oiled bowl, turning to cover sides with oil. Cover with a damp linen towel, or plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 hour, or until dough has doubled.
• Punch down to release all the air. Shape into two loaves. Place loaves on a greased cookie sheet, or into two 9x5 inch, greased pans.
• Allow to rise for 1/2 hour again, until doubled in a warm place.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
• Remove loaves from pans and let cool on wire racks for at least 15 minutes, before slicing.

ITALIAN HERB BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Follow instructions for your bread machine.
• My machine instructs to measure ingredients in the order listed into the baking pan. (I mix the water and powdered milk and microwave for about 30 seconds on high before putting in pan.).
• Insert baking pan into oven chamber and secure pan.
• Select basic bread setting and 2 pound loaf.
• When cycle ends, I put the loaf into a large zip lock bag, seal, and place on wire rack to cool completely before slicing.