Low Fat Italian Style Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups warm water
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• cooking spray

Recipe

• 1 in a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water (100-115 degrees). allow to proof for 5 minutes. the mixture should be bubbly and foamy looking.
• 2 after 5 minutes, add 5-1/2 cups of the flour to the bowl along with the salt. mix until smooth.
• 3 turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
• 4 or: do this in an electric mixer (such as a kitchen aid)and use a dough hook to knead the dough. (much easier!).
• 5 place dough in a large bowl that has been coated with cooking spray.
• 6 cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
• 7 when doubled, punch dough down and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• 8 divide in half and shape each half into a 12 inch loaf.
• 9 spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal.
• 10 place loaves on baking sheets.
• 11 cover and let rise for 15 minutes.
• 12 uncover and brush each loaf with cold water. make 5 diagonal slashes (1/4" deep) across the top of each loaf using a very sharp knife.
• 13 place baking sheets in a cold oven and turn oven to 400 degrees.
• 14 bake for 40 minutes or until loaves are browned on the bottom and sound hollow when tapped.
• 15 cool on wire racks.
• 16 note: i use instant yeast which doesn't require proofing. just mix yeast in with flour, sugar and salt. add warm water (115-120 degrees) and continue with mixing and kneading.
• 17 you can also make bread sticks out of this dough. shape each half of dough into 12 sticks. cover and let rise for 15-20 minutes - then bake for about 20 minutes until brown. these are good brushed with garlic butter (makes them not so lowfat).