Rachel's Italian Bread

Here is the bread I made for the Valentine Banquet last week. It was so delicious. I worked all week tweaking recipes trying to get it just right and finally was satisfied with this one.


Rachel's Italian Bread
4 c. warm water
1/4 c. sugar
2 1/2 T yeast
1/4 c. dry milk
1 T salt
1/2 c. olive oil
2 c. whole wheat flour
8-9 c. white flour

Mix water, sugar and yeast and let set for 10 minutes until the yeast is foamy. Add the rest of ingredients until you get to the flour then as the mixer is going add the flour one cup at a time until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the mixer. Let it knead (mix) for 10 minutes. Flour the counter where you plan to shape the loaves.
I put the whole batch of dough on the counter and flattened it a little- so it was about 1 inch thick. Then took a pizza cutter and cut a strip off the end, then cut that into 4 or 5 squares. Each square: squish down to 1/2 inch thick, it should be about 3 to 4 inches square. Take all corners and squish together, turn the "loaf" so the seam is on the underside and place on baking sheet (these did best on stoneware). Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, cut an "X" shape in the top. Let rise till doubled, bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
These made awesome sandwiches!
This recipe should make about 30 big rolls. It would taste great with a 1 or 2 tsp Italian seasoning.