Pane Bianco (Italy)

2 packages yeast
2-1/2 cups very warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
6 -b7 cups all-purpose flour (or more)
yellow corn meal
1 slightly beaten egg white
1 tablespoon water

Dissolve sugar in very warm water, then sprinkle on the yeast. Let dissolve for a few minutes, then stir in. Let set about 10 minutes. Stir in salt, then stir in about 2 cups of flour. Beat. Then add another 2 cups of flour, kneading as necessary. Add the rest of the flour gradually to form a very stiff dough. (More flour may be needed.) Let rest another 10 minutes. Turn out on floured board and knead, adding flour to prevent sticking, for at least 15 minutes.

Let rise in greased bowl for about an hour. Punch down and let it rise again. Form two long loaves, place on greased baking sheets sprinkled with corn meal. Combine egg white and 1 tablespoon water, brush on loaves, let rise about an hour till nearly double.

Preheat oven to 375. Place shallow pan on lower rack of oven, fill with boiling water. Put loaves in the oven. Bake about 20 minutes, brush with more of egg-white mixture and bake another 20 minutes.

Submitted by Karen Utley

Wheat Farmer Bread (Finland)

1 potato, sliced thin
2 cups water
milk
1 package yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons caraway seed
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
melted butter

Boil potato in water till very soft. Stir potato-water mixture to dissolve potato. Let cool a little, then add milk to make 2-1/2 cups liquid total. When cooled to very warm, add sugar and sprinkle on the yeast. Let dissolve, then add sugar, salt and caraway seed. Beat in whole-wheat flour, add all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time, kneading as necessary to form a stiff dough. Continue kneading till smooth and elastic.

Grease dough and let rise till double. Form 2 round loaves and let rise about 40 minutes. Using handle of a long wooden spoon, press straight down through loaves in rows about 1 inch apart. Bake at 375 for about 35 minutes. Brush with melted butter.

Submitted by Karen Utley

Limpa Bread (Sweden)

1 cup boiling water,
1/2 cup rolled wheat OR cracked wheat
2 teaspoons crushed fennel seed
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup molasses
1 package yeast
1-1/4 cup very warm water
2 cups rye flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 – 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
melted butter

In a large bowl, pour boiling water over rolled OR cracked wheat, fennel seed, orange peel, salt, molasses and 3 tablespoons butter. Let cool to lukewarm. Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in water and add to lukewarm mixture. Beat in rye flour, then stir in whole wheat flour. Add all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time to make a moderately stiff dough.

Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead till smooth and elastic, adding flour to prevent sticking. Grease dough and let rise in a warm place till doubled (about 2 hours). Punch down and form two round loaves. Let rise till almost doubled (about 1 hour). Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Brush with melted butter.

Submitted by Karen Utley