Norman's Bread

Fluffy inside, crusty outside. This is my father’s creation.

(Makes 1 loaf)
2 egg whites

1 T yeast
2 T sugar
1 C very warm water

3 1/2 C of flour--mix all purpose with bread flour, 50:50
(3C if using a bread machine)
1 t salt

2 T flavorful olive oil

To Start:
Stir the salt into the flour. Set aside.

In mixing bowl stir together yeast, sugar and warm water. Let sit while yeast becomes foamy and active.

Whip the egg whites in a separate bowl until soft peaks form (not until stiff!).

Gradually stir about 1/3 of the flour into the yeast mixture, and when it becomes a soft batter fold in the egg whites.

By mixer or by hand:
Add the rest of the flour as you mix and knead the bread, adding the olive oil with the last third or so of the flour. It should be a light and bouncy dough. Let it rise 30-40 minutes in a warm place after either wetting the ball of dough or covering with a damp cloth so it doesn't dry out.

After rising, punch it down, shape into a loaf, and place in greased pan (plain loaf) or on a semolina-sprinkled pan (hearth loaf) and let proof, keeping it damp or oiled. This rise should be about 20 minutes.

While it rises, preheat the oven. When risen, slash the tops and bake.

For hearth or french loaves:
oven 400° first 20 minutes, with frequent misting to create steam and give a crunchy crust;
then 300° for 10-25 minutes, until it sounds done when tapped on the bottom.

For regular bread-pan loaves:
set the oven 350° for about 50 minutes, or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

By bread machine:
Layer the egg/yeast/flour batter with 1/2 the remaining flour, then the olive oil, and then the rest of the flour, and let the machine do the rest, or take out the risen dough to shape and bake as above.

Herb Loaf variation

I used 2:1 whole wheat:unbleached flour. The whole wheat flour was milled with
   1/2 t black peppercons
   approx. 1/16t anise seeds,
   1/8t celery seeds
   1/2t cumin seeds
(grinding the seeds finely in a coffee mill or a mortar and pestle should give a similar result. )   The flour was then mixed with:
   1/2 t garlic granule
   1/2 t onion granules
   3 t dried oregano
   2 t dried rosemary
and the salt.
   After shaping, the loaves were brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and a mixture of poppy, cumin and celery seeds.

Feel free to play with this stuff:
Addition of herbs, chopped nuts, seeds, etc. should work well with this nicely balanced loaf--being neither sweet nor savory, it compliments either type of seasoning. Whole wheat flour can substitute for up to 50% of the total flour with little decrease in the final loaf volume.

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