Bread-Bakers v105.n031.10

Two of my favorite ways to create steam for a shiny and textured crust:

1) Cold start oven, and put some water in a pan on the bottom of the 
oven.  No risk of steam burn.

2) Cover the loaf with a large flowerpot plugged with a wide washer 
and a ring-bolt (or spend ten times as much for 'la cloche') for 
first fifteen minutes of baking.