Bread Machine Italian Bread (baked In Oven)

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups water (110 degrees f)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt (can use up to 1-1/2 teaspoons)
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast (you could just use a small package of yeast which is 2-1/4 teaspoons instead of the 2-1/2 teaspoons)
• 1 small egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 -4 tablespoons cornmeal (to sprinkle on baking sheet)

Recipe

• 1 place the water, flours, olive oil, salt, sugar and yeast in the bread pan in order recommended by the manufacturer.
• 2 place into the bread machine and set to dough cycle; press start.
• 3 when the cycle has finished deflate the dough and remove to a lightly floured surface.
• 4 divide the dough evenly in half (or you may leave in one large piece).
• 5 cover the dough with a clean tea towel and let rest for 4-5 minutes.
• 6 roll up the dough, shape into two loaves, then seal the seam.
• 7 place the loaves spaced well apart seam-side down on a 15 x 10-inch baking sheet that has been generously sprinkled with cornmeal.
• 8 cover with a clean tea towel and let rise for about 40 minutes to 1 hour (be careful not to over rise your dough or it will deflate when brushing with the egg mixture and will taste yeasty after baked).
• 9 in a small bowl whisk together egg with water.
• 10 brush the egg mixture gently over the loaves.
• 11 make one long fast slit down the middle of the dough using a very sharp small knife or a razor blade.
• 12 bake in a 375 degree f oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• 13 immediately remove the loaves to a wooden cutting board (if the loaves stick to the pan gently place a spatula underneath loaves to loosen).