HOW TO KEEP ITALIAN BREAD FRESH RECIPES

Steps:

• For Starter - Mix well - 1 and 1/3 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp yeast, 1 cup warm water and 1/2 tsp sugar. Cover and leave at room temperature to ferment for at least 4 hours (or until dough doubles in size)
• For Dough - Stir the risen starter and let it rest for 5 minutes. In meantime, in a small bowl, add 4 tbsp warm water, 1/2 cup warm milk, 1 tsp sugar, 1 & 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp oil and mix well. Sprinkle yeast over the rested starter. Add milk and oil mixture and 2 cups of all-purpose flour. Mix well. Transfer to a flour dusted board and knead adding 1 tbsp flour at a time until dough comes together. Knead the dough for 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, swirl the dough in bowl to apply oil all over. Cover and leave at warm place to rise for 2 hours (until it triples in size.)
• Shape the Dough - Punch the dough, transfer to a floured surface. Gently roll the dough to make a 12 inch rectangle. Divide it in four portions.
• Shape the Dough - Sprinkle a baking sheet with 2 tbsp of all-purpose or semolina flour. Shape each half into a small rectangle by folding it like letter (tucking the edges inside). Transfer each folded rectangle to baking sheet, folded ends facing down and place'em in 2 lines, 3-4 inch apart.
• Bake - Preheat oven at 425 Fahrenheit. Cover with kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature for 60 minutes (or until almost doubles in size) , then bake for 22-25 minutes or until tops are brown and bottom of rolls sound hollow when taped.
• Transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or let the bread cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for later. To defrost, I microwave frozen bread for 2 minutes at low power.

Steps:

• 1. Slice the bread 1cm-thick, then toast on a barbecue or griddle pan.
  2. Rub each slice lightly with a cut clove of garlic, then drizzle with some good extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle lightly with a little sea salt and black pepper.
  3. Remove the cores from the tomatoes, carefully squeeze out the seeds, then place in a bowl.
  4. Tear in the basil leaves, season with salt and pepper, then toss with a good lug of oil and a good swig of vinegar, to balance the flavours.
  5. Serve the tomatoes either chunky or finely chopped, or you can scrunch them between your fingers before putting them on your bruschette – really tasty.