Then, you take a sharp knife or a lame (a razor blade with a handle) to make a slash in your dough about one-quarter inch deep along the length of your loaf ... bread pan, combo cooker, or large ...

Dough that hasn't been rested long enough will result in a dense loaf. Too dense means your bread might be inedible ... it's more than doubled in size and large bubbles are seen throughout ...

Place the loaf on a wire rack and leave to cool for at least 30 minutes. This is the hardest part, but it's also the most important as the bread keeps ... you like - one long slash, a cross ...