Welcome to my Italian Breads page!


. . . a little taste of Italy without the fare!

The first thing you should be told (if you haven't already noticed) is that these breads (left and right) are not of my own doing... maybe one day. Until then I will post my successes with explanations on how to repeat them. Naturally you are free to do whatever to whichever recipe you chose. Be creative!

So now that you know that truth you can leave... no wait! I want to tell you how to make delicious "Rustic Italian Bread". Step 1: marry an Italian baker! LOL! :) no no, you don't have to do that... but there is another way.

Step 1: Autolyse 11 oz. bread flour with 10.7 oz. water for 20 mins. to 1 hr.
Step 2: Mix in 1/4 tsp of instant yeast and place the sponge in a lightly greased medium sized bowl.
Step 3: Let this sit on your counter for ~12 hrs., or in the refridgerator for 24 - 27 hours.

STARTSTOP
8 AM8 PM
12 Noon12 Midnight
8 PM8 AM
Step 4: After the wait period, start making the dough: 16.5 oz. of the same bread flour plus ... to be continued
Step 5: Combine the sponge with the ingredients and mix together. Let it rest for 30 mins. or so.
Step 6: FERMENTATION: let the dough sit for an hour
Step 7: After the hour is up, fold the dough in the bowl within which it is residing.
Step 8: Let it ferment for another hour.
Step 9: Fold once more.
Step 10: Let it rest 20 mins. or so.
Step 11: ... to be continued
Step 12:

As you can see from my 7th attempt at this recipe, the loaves look quite nice, tasted great (that is far more important), and had a wonderful aroma. However what is missing is the telltale "ear" of the bread. The part on the crust which lifts off of the surface and gives the bread its beautiful rustic look and feel. Once I achieve that I will have completed this task.


Fig. 1a. Rustic Italian Bread - The Crust                                                 Fig. 1b. Rustic Italian Bread - The Crumb




I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting my bread website and tell you that I hope God opens your eyes to know that His Son, Yeshua Hamashiach, is the true Messiah. If you would like to know more about how God has opened my eyes to know His Word, then you can visit my site about my faith. May God richly bless you and yours, in Jesus' name, amen.