Baking bread is just wonderful….
It’s therapeutic for me mixing, kneading, waiting for the dough to rise…
The house smells so good while the bread is baking…
And then you get to enjoy the bread – in my case, I’m giving it to a friend, along with jars of homemade preserves.
I have to say, I love giving homemade food gifts to friends – the look
on their faces,
I can just tell they appreciate it and I’ve brought some joy to their day.
That makes my day!
Here’s the recipe:
Italian Bread
In a bowl, stir:
1 cup warm water
1 Tb sugar
1 packet of active dry yeast
Let stand about five minutes, until it’s foamy.
In a large bowl, mix together:
2 cups bread flour
1/2 tsp salt
Add to the bowl:
the yeast mixture and
2 Tb olive oil
Stir with a wooden spoon
Add up to 1/2 cup of flour until it forms a dough.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes.
Shape dough into a ball, place in an oiled bowl and turn to coat.
Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise for one hour, until doubled.
Head oven to 400 degrees F.
Lightly oil the surface of a baking sheet with olive oil.
On a lightly floured surface, punch down dough and begin to
shape dough, long and tapered as in photo above.
I finished shaping it on the baking sheet so it would be easier to move.
Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 20 minutes.
Use a serrated knife to make three slits in the surface of the loaf,
about 1/4 inch deep each.
Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.
Cool for a bit.
If you like warm bread, slice it while it’s still warm,
spread some butter and honey, or jam,
and Enjoy!
Have fun today.
Bake some bread. 😊
Daisy
A Daisy Garden 
This looks wonderful!!! I’d like to put in a full request to have one of these stay at home! Thank you!!
🙂
Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! This looks sooooooooo good! I baked all of the bread for the family, but that stopped when the nest emptied and I went back to work. Oh, how I miss it!
It’s such an easy recipe. Very quick to get it ready. I like to use it also to make croutons the next day. Just drizzle a little olive oil or butter that’s combined with garlic, parsley, and any other spices you’d love on your croutons (parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, onion powder), and put it in the oven 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or longer if you like them really toasty.
I know what you mean about the empty nest…that’s why I give away these baked goods to neighbors & friends…my kids & grandkids don’t live close enough to just drive over and surprise them 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
Wonderful pictures. I’m going to be making a some bread similar to this for my son-in-law’s birthday on Sunday.
You have some very lucky friends.
Lillian, it’s so good to hear from you! Love reading the stories about your family on your blog – great idea!! Those photos you post are great. I hope your bread on Sunday turns out delicious! I’m sure it will 🙂
What a thoughtful and special gift for your friend! Beautiful pictures, too.
Thank you! It’s fun baking for others, especially when it’s something like bread & jam.
What a lovely loaf of bread! I’ll be sure to try this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing, and I agree, homemade gifts are the best kind.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the bread 🙂
What a beautiful loaf, I also love baking bread. Such a wonderful gift from your kitchen and your heart.
Thank you so much for such a nice comment. I really appreciate it! I sure loved that plum & nectarine tart you posted… can’t wait to make it – I know just who would love that, too… (a friend of mine– she lives close by and isn’t on a strict diet like I am) 🙂
Your photos are wonderful and make the bread look even more appealing than it would be on its own! And I have to admit to spending time admiring that pretty towel!
Haha! I love that little towel! I got it in a 3-pack last year at a clearance section. They are nice & big and make great kitchen towels! How are your yo-yo’s coming along? You made me laugh when I read how you described your dilemma and how you had about 1500 finished already! I’ve been wanting to start a yo-yo project for my daughter-in-law, who loves them, but I haven’t found time to cut all the fabric I need. I’m also not sure whether to use solids or prints.
mmm. . . This bread looks fantastic. This loaf looks wonderfully “crusty.” I’m going to try this recipe the next time I make bread. In the past I’ve tried to make crusty breads without much luck.
Yes, I was surprised how crusty it was, especially right out of the oven.
I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
Oh gosh Daisy– the loaf of bread is gorgeous!! I could live on bread and butter!! and “crusty” is the best!! I really want to try this when school is all wrapped up! thanks for the nudge to try some bread baking!! hugs from here…
What a thoughtful gift for your friend, she must have loved it especially with the homemade jam.
It just so happened that she was on a special diet and couldn’t eat bread…but she’s got three boys, so I know it didn’t last long. 😊
Daisy– wonder how your health is by now. Saying a prayerful you this morning, friend. xo
Rhonda, thank you so much!! It means a lot! I’m doing well, thanking the Lord for good results on my tests! Are you enjoying your summer and new “retirement”? 😊 xoxo
That’s so so good to hear Daisy! God is good. Summer has been lovely (and busy)– doing VBS this week and I have 15 kids from school coming along with me, plus teaching– so it’s a little crazy, but a wonderful week. Love the week every year.
Fun! It’s been a while since I’ve done VBS, we do Youth Camp every year now, but either way, they’re a great way to get to be with the young people. Have a wonderful week!! 😊💕
Thanks thanks Daisy–finished the first day today and I’m beat! but it was great.
Haha! I know what you mean…every year I think to myself, “I’m getting too old for this!”
It’s true– and sometimes I think I’m not exciting (young!) enough– but I teach the missions class and the kids still love the stories so I just keep showing up. I love the week…