"Ernie" wrote in message=20
. ..

Is there something I can do to make a more tender crust?

Assuming the bread is made and baked properly, you can
bag it in plastic after a short interval of cooling. Keep it in
the bag for a few hours, and the crust will soften.

That is much too easy, and you may prefer to do it in a more
intricate and hopeless way, particularly as there is a minute=20
hazard of mold growth for a loaf stored too moist (or any
amount of moist).