Italian Bread Recipe

Combine first five ingredients, yeast last and let dissolve for 2 minutes. Mix in 2 cups of flour with a whisk until creamy. Mix in 2 more cups of flour and stir for 2 minutes with wooden spoon. Stir in enough additional flour to cause the dough to pull away from the sides of the bowl.

Turn out on floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes). Put in greased bowl (olive oil for a less crusty bread), turn to coat and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled (1.5 hours). Punch dough down. Divide into two and shape as loaves and allow them to rise a second time (approx. 45 minutes).

Slide loaves onto a baking stone in a preheated 400 degree oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until hollow when tapped on top. I usually put a water soaked sneaker shoelace across the top of the loaf, this will cause it to split.