Muffuletta Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water (110 f)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (about 1 tablespoon)
• 3 cups bread flour, approximately
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• sesame seeds

Recipe

• 1 in a 2 cup glass measuring cup, combine water and sugar.
• 2 stir in yeast. let stand until foamy, 5-10 minutes.
• 3 in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine 3 cups flour, salt and shortening.
• 4 add yeast mixture.
• 5 process until dough forms a ball, about 5 seconds. stop machine, and check consistency of dough. it should be smooth and satiny.
• 6 if dough is too dry, add more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, processing just until blended.
• 7 if dough is too sticky, add more flour, 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, processing just until blended. process 20 seconds to knead.
• 8 lightly oil a large bowl, swirling to coat bottom and sides.
• 9 place dough in the oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat all sides.
• 10 cover bowl with plastic wrap. let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk,.
• 11 about 1 1/2 hours.
• 12 lightly grease a baking sheet.
• 13 when dough has doubled in bulk, punch down dough, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
• 14 form dough into a round loaf about 10" in diameter, and place on a greased baking sheet.
• 15 sprinkle top of loaf with sesame seeds.
• 16 press seeds gently into surface of loaf.
• 17 cover very loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise until almost doubled in bulk, 1 hour.
• 18 place rack in center of oven.
• 19 preheat oven to 425.
• 20 remove plastic wrap.
• 21 bake loaf in center of preheated oven, for 10 minutes.
• 22 reduce heat to 375, and bake 25 minutes.
• 23 the loaf is done when it sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
• 24 cool completely on a rack before slicing.