Italian Bread

Place ½ cup warm water in large warm bowl. Sprinkle in yeast; stir until dissolved. Add remaining water, salt, and 2 cups flour; blend well. Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 20 to 40 minutes.

Punch dough down. Remove dough to lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each half to 12-inch circle. Roll up each circle tightly as for jelly roll to make loaf. Pinch seams and ends to seal; taper ends by gently rolling back and forth. Place loaves, seam sides down, on large greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 20 to 40 minutes.

Lightly dust loaves with additional flour, if desired. With sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes (¼ inch deep) across top of each loaf. Bake at 400oF for 25 minutes or until done. Remove from sheet; let cool on wire rack.