Italian Rounds Recipes

RUSTIC ITALIAN CRUSTY BREAD RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl or your kitchen aid mixer add the flour, salt and yeast. Use a spatula or the paddle attachment and mix to combine well.
• Pour in the warm water and keep mixing until everything is incorporated and a soft dough has formed. It will still stick to the bottom of the bowl and that is OK.
• Cover the bowl with some plastic wrap loosely and a tea towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until doubled in size.
• Sprinkle some flour on your kitchen counter and dump the bread dough on it. Flour your hands to help it out of the bowl as it will be sticky. Don't panic, this is normal.
• With floured hands fold the dough onto itself forming it into a round ball. Do not knead it, do not handle it anymore than you need to. Use a sharp knife and lightly carve an X in the top of the loaf or just make a few cuts across.
• Place the bread dough on top of a lightly floured pizza peel, cardboard or parchment paper and allow it to rest while your oven is heating up.
• Preheat your oven to 450"F with a pizza stone inside for about 45 minutes before baking the bread. Fill an oven proof bowl with 2 inches of water and place it on the bottom rack. This will create the steam that will cause the crust to become crispy as it bakes.
• Once your oven is hot sprinkle the pizza stone with some semolina flour or corn meal and carefully slide the bread loaf on top. Bake the bread for about 30 to 45 minutes until golden brown all over and cooked through.
• Transfer the bread to a cooling rack and allow to cool off completely before slicing into it. You can also let it cool inside the oven with the door slightly open.

ITALIAN-STYLE ROLLS

Steps:

• Place the kneader attachment onto the stand mixer.
• Proof the yeast with 1 teaspoon sugar in 3/4 cup water for 10 minutes or until foamy.
• In the stainless steel mixing bowl place 3-1/2 cups flour, salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and melted butter.
• When the yeast has proofed add to the bowl along with 3/4 cup warm water.
• Start kneading adding in more flour only if needed (total kneading time should take about 8 minutes) do not add in too much flour or the buns will be heavy, when finished kneading the dough should feel soft but semi-sticky and smooth and should stick to your hands only slightly when removing from the bowl.
• Remove the dough to a very lightly flour-dusted surface; cover with clean tea towel and let rest 5 minutes.
• Shape into a ball (the dough will come together nicely after resting).
• Place into a large greased deep glass bowl.
• Cover and let rise for about 60-90 minutes.
• To check if the dough is ready to be punched down, very gently stick two fingers about 1/2-inch into the dough, the dough is ready when the finger marks remain.
• Punch down dough and slice in half.
• Slice each half into 4 even pieces.
• Shape each piece into a round ball.
• Place balls spacing well apart onto a 10 x 15-inch greased baking sheet (2 balls across and 4 balls down).
• Cover and let rise 30-40 minutes.
• Bake at 375 for about 22 minutes or until light golden brown.

SAVORY ITALIAN ROUNDS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Separate biscuits and place on two ungreased baking sheets. Let stand for 5 minutes. , Flatten biscuits into 4-in. circles. Spread about 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture over each circle to within 1/2 in. of edge. , Bake at 400° for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.