Mama D’s Italian Bread
Description
This Italian bread recipe is just flour, yeast, sugar, salt and water, in perfect proportion, for a basic, tasty bread to share or freeze for later.
Ingredients
•
1 teaspoon white sugar
•
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
•
3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
•
7 cups all-purpose flour, divided, or as needed
•
1 tablespoon salt
•
cooking spray
Directions
1
Gather all ingredients.
2
Add sugar and yeast to the warm water and let proof.
3
Stir in 4 cups flour and beat until smooth. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
4
Beat in salt and then add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Knead until soft and smooth. Turn in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size.
5
Once doubled, punch down and divide into three. Place back in the bowl, cover, and let rise again.
6
Once doubled, punch down and form into three fat “footballs.” Grease heavy cookie sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place the bread on the sheets, cover with a towel, and let rise.
7
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
8
Mist loaves with water and place in the preheated oven.
9
Bake until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom, 25 to 30 minutes. Mist loaves with water and turn occasionally while they bake.