Brenda's Italian Bread
INGREDIENTS:
4 c Unbleached flour 10 tb Olive oil
2/3 Fresh cake yeast, 1/3 c Water
Dissolved in 2/3 cup warm 2 1/2 ts Salt
Water
4 c Unbleached flour 10 tb Olive oil
2/3 Fresh cake yeast, 1/3 c Water
Dissolved in 2/3 cup warm 2 1/2 ts Salt
Water
Mix 2 cups flour with the dissolved yeast. Knead the dough for 10 minutes, either by hand or in the bowl of an electric mixture with a dough hook. Shape the dough into a ball, and put in an oiled bowl to rise until doubled in bulk, about 3 hours.
Punch down, put the dough on a floured board, and knead again, incorporating the remaining flour, 1/3 cup olive oil, water, and salt. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Let rise again in a covered bowl for another 3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Divide the dough in half and roll out on a well-floured board to circles or squares 1/2 inch thick. Brush with the remaining olive oil and press the topping of your choice into the top of each circle. Bake on a baking sheet until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges, squares, or triangles.
NOTE: Slashes may be made in a decorative or random pattern in the breads before baking.
TOPPINGS: * Thinly sliced rounds of yellow onion * Paper-thin crosswise slices of tomatoes and chunks of sun-dried tomatoes * Oregano leaves and slivers of garlic * Coarse salt and olive oil * Rosemary sprigs, coarse salt, and olive oil * Black olive halves and coarse salt * Sage leaves, coarse salt, and olive oil
Punch down, put the dough on a floured board, and knead again, incorporating the remaining flour, 1/3 cup olive oil, water, and salt. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Let rise again in a covered bowl for another 3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Divide the dough in half and roll out on a well-floured board to circles or squares 1/2 inch thick. Brush with the remaining olive oil and press the topping of your choice into the top of each circle. Bake on a baking sheet until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges, squares, or triangles.
NOTE: Slashes may be made in a decorative or random pattern in the breads before baking.
TOPPINGS: * Thinly sliced rounds of yellow onion * Paper-thin crosswise slices of tomatoes and chunks of sun-dried tomatoes * Oregano leaves and slivers of garlic * Coarse salt and olive oil * Rosemary sprigs, coarse salt, and olive oil * Black olive halves and coarse salt * Sage leaves, coarse salt, and olive oil