Homemade Italian Bread

From www.recipezaar.com
First prepared 2/25/2010

This is an amazingly great bread.  Very versatile.

Allow at least 3 hours before putting bread in oven.
Bread bakes for 20 - 30 minutes depending on selections.

Ingredients:
5 1/2 - 6 cups all-purpose flour
1 T sugar
2 t salt
5 t active dry yeast (2 packages)
1 T butter, softened
1 3/4 cups very warm water (120 - 130 F)
cornmeal
peanut oil or light olive oil
1 egg white
1 T cold water

Directions:
1.  In large bowl thoroughly mix 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt and undissolved yeast.
2.  Add butter.
3.  Gradually add warm water to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally.
4.  Add 3/4 cup flour.
5.  Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
6.  Stir in enough additional flour to make a stiff dough.
7.  Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes)  - or switch paddle in mixing bowl to bread hook and mix on medium speed for 10 minutes, scraping clean the hook several times.
8.  Cover dough with plastic wrap and then a towel and let it rest for 20 minutes.
9.  To make loaves: divide dough in half.
10.  Roll each half into a 15x10 in rectangle.
11.  Starting at wide side, roll up tightly; pinch seam to seal.
12.  Taper ends by rolling gently back and forth.
13.  To make rolls divide dough into 6 equal pieces. 
14.  Roll each piece into a rectangle 8x5 inches.
15.  Starting with the wide side, roll up tightly; pinch seam to seal.
16.  Taper ends.
17.  Place the shaped dough seam side down on greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal.
18.  Brush dough with oil.
19.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 -24 hours.
20.  When ready to bake, remove from refrigerator and uncover carefully.
21.  Let dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
22.  Make 2 or 4 diagonal slits in dough with a sharp knife or razor blade.
23.  Bake at 425 F for 15 minutes for rolls, 20 minutes for loaves.
24.  Remove from oven and brush with egg white beaten with cold water.
25.  Return to oven; bake 5-10 min longer or until golden.