Crusty Whole Wheat Italian Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups water (105-115 deg.f.)
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar or 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal, for dusting baking sheet

Recipe

• 1 ----forbread machine----.
• 2 add all ingredients except cornmeal to bread machine pan in the order recommended by your machine's manufacturer.
• 3 select dough cycle and start machine.
• 4 ----conventionalmethod----.
• 5 in large bowl, dissolve yeast, brown sugar, and ginger in warm water.
• 6 let stand 5 minutes until yeast foams.
• 7 add salt and bread flour; beat well.
• 8 stir in whole wheat flour to make a stiff dough.
• 9 turn out onto lightly floured board and knead 10 minutes or until dough is springy, smooth and satiny.
• 10 wash bowl, grease it, and add dough to bowl; turn over to grease top.
• 11 let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• 12 ----shapingand baking----.
• 13 lightly oil or grease a 14x17" baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal; set aside.
• 14 punch down the dough.
• 15 divide in half and, on a lightly floured surface, shape into long loaves, rolling each piece first into a 5x12" rectangle, then rolling each up along the long side to make a long, narrow loaf.
• 16 pinch edges to seal, and taper ends.
• 17 place loaves, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet.
• 18 let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• 19 make 4-5 slashes across each loaf with sharp knife or razor blade.
• 20 brush each loaf with water and sprinkle with whole wheat flour.
• 21 bake in a preheated 400 degree f oven for 15-20 minutes, until loaves are browned and crisp.
• 22 remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• 23 note: i also use a spray bottle filled with water and spray the loaves and oven walls once or twice at 5-minute intervals at the beginning of baking.
• 24 you could also make this into one large oblong loaf or a round loaf, but baking time would need to be increased.