Which do you prefer for your homemade breads? Crispy, chewy crusts? Or soft and tender?

If it's soft and tender you like, use milk for the liquid in the recipe and brush the crusts with butter immediately after the bread is baked.

You want crispy and chewy? Here's the secret. Use water for the liquid in the bread dough. Then, after the dough has risen, and just before you're placing it in the hot oven, brush or spray the loaves with cold water. Let the bread bake a couple of minutes and take it out just long enough to brush it again with cold water. Repeat this two or three times during the first 10 minutes of baking.

How about a glossy look? Combine 1/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch; bring to a boil and cool. Remove the loaves 5 minutes before the end of their baking-time and brush with the glaze you've created. Return the bread to the oven to finish baking.

For a shiny, golden crust, brush with an egg glaze before baking. To make the glaze, combine 1 slightly beaten egg with 1 tablespoon of milk or water.