European breads are incredibly good, and feature, almost without exception, a crisp crust with a soft interior. European bakers not only vary the types of flour used in their breads, but they include other ingredients like seeds and nuts, which add fiber, nutrition, body, and taste. My son, Andrew, recently attended a Cordon Bleu cooking school in Portland; while there, he was taught in his baking classes to make good European style bread. I am pleased to know that the new chefs emerging from good culinary schools have been taught to make real bread; hopefully consumers will figure out how good it is and it will be easier to find as demand rises.
 
In the meantime, if you are craving really good bread, you can either make it at home by hand, or in your Bosch (or other large) mixer if you have one. This version does take a lot of hands-on-time; if you’re short on time, which most of us are, you can use your automatic bread machine to mix and proof the dough, a method which does not take very much hands-on time--only enough to gather and measure the ingredients.

Automatic Bread Machine European Style Light Rye Bread

Small Loaf:
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups white flour (bread flour or all purpose)
1/2 cup rye flour
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon cornmeal
2 teaspoons caraway seeds (less if you prefer)
2 teaspoons dry yeast
 
Large Loaf:
1 1/4 cups water
2 1/2 cups white flour (bread flour or all purpose)
3/4 cup rye flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1 tablespoon dry yeast
 
Place the ingredients in the pan of the auto bread machine in the order given. Set the machine to the regular bake cycle if you want to bake the bread in the machine. Otherwise, set the machine to the dough setting; when the dough is done, shape into either a round loaf or put the dough in a regular loaf pan (large loaf, 1 loaf pan and a small round. Let rise, then bake at 375° 30-40 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If it is browning too much in the oven, cover loosely with foil.

European Style Pumpernickel Bread

Small Loaf:
3/4 cups water
1 cups flour
2/3 cup rye flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoons dry milk
1 1/4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons molasses
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee
3/4 tablespoon caraway seeds
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
 
Large Loaf:
1 1/4 cups water
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup rye flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tablespoons dry milk
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1 tablespoon yeast (slightly heaping)
 
Place the ingredients in the order given into the pan of the automatic bread machine. If making a braid, round loaf, or loaf in a regular loaf pan, set the machine to the dough setting; otherwise set the machine to bake a regular loaf.
 
To form into a braid, divide the dough in half, roll each half into a long rope, and twist together. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let rise until doubled in bulk. Bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If the bread is browning too fast, cover loosely with foil.
 
You can also form the dough into 1 large or two small round loaves; bake as directed for the braid.
 
If you want to bake your (large loaf) bread in regular loaf pans, divide dough in half; roll each half to a rectangle about 1" thick, then roll the rectangle up starting at the longest side; pinch the dough along the seam, then take the sides and pinch them together with the loaf. Roll back and forth a little to make a smooth and even shape, then place in greased loaf pans to rise. Bake as above.
 
Nutritional information for either loaf (small loaf = about 18 slices; large loaf = about 24 slices): 
Amount Per Serving
Calories 77 Calories from Fat 11
Percent Total Calories From:
Fat 14% Protein 9% Carb. 77%
 
Nutrient Amount per
Serving
Total Fat 1 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Cholesterol 3 mg
Sodium 156 mg
Total Carbohydrate 15 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 2 g
 
Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 2%
 
Purchase an Automatic Bread Machine from Amazon:
Black & Decker B2250 All-In-One Automatic Breadmaker for 1-1/2 to 2-Pound Loaves
West Bend 41200 Programmable Bread Machine, Stainless
Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker
Zojirushi BBCCX20 Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker.