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Homemade Italian Bread

Ingredients

  • 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1⅓ cups warm water 110 degrees F/45 degrees C
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 .25 ounce package active dry yeast
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal

Instructions

  • Place flour, honey, warm water, salt, olive oil and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
  • Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Form dough into two loaves. Place the loaves seam side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise, until doubled in volume about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush the risen loaves with egg mixture.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.