I get a lot of compliments on my homemade bread so I thought I’d share how I make it.

Based on a recipe from Memorie di Angelina, here’s how I make my own bread. Thanks to Frank A. Fariello Jr. for the inspiration.

I’ve attempted other recipes but keep coming back to this one.  Over time, through trial and error I’ve settled on the following tweeks:

• From the Directions section at the bottom of the page – Step 2, I use the folding and shaping techniques shown in this video, before transferring the dough into a 9” proofing basket.

• I then warm the oven to ~100 degrees just to warm it up a bit above room temperature.  MAKE SURE TO TURN OVEN WARMING off after a couple of minutes.

• Place the proofing basket in the oven for 90 minutes.  Transfer proofing basked to counter and cover dough with a cloth before moving to Step 3.

• For Step 3, I prefer a darker crust, so I preheat my oven and dutch oven to 475 degrees and bake bread covered for 18 minutes, remove the lid and bake it for another 18-20 minutes

• During step 5, just before covering with the lid and placing it in the oven, score the top of the bread with scissors by making several (4-6) 1-2” cuts in the center of the dough. I make a T-shaped cut.  This allows the dough to expand more freely while baking

Have fun and enjoy!