Homemade French Bread

There is nothing like the smell of fresh baked bread! 

Homemade French Bread

3 1/2 C. warm water
1 pkg. yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
1/4 C. sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
8-9 C. unbleached flour

Dissolve yeast in 1 1/2 C. warm water.

Place remaining 2 C. water, sugar, salt and 3 C. flour into mixer.  Stir to combine.  Add in yeast mixture.  Add remaining lour 1 C. at a time until smooth dough is formed. Knead 5 minutes. 

Place dough into greased bowl, turning once to coat, cover bowl.

Let rise in warm spot until doubled in size (about 1 - 1 1/2 hours).

Divide dough and shape into 4 loaves and place on greased cookie sheets (or in french bread pans).  As you can see, I am not real exact with shaping my loaves, close enough works for me.

Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 min.  Make diagonal slashes on bread and brush with one egg mixed with 1 Tbsp. water. 

Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

-This is my family's favorite bread for garlic bread.  I am lucky if it last more than 2 days when I make it!

*To make this whole wheat --replace 2-3 C. of the unbleached flour with whole wheat flour and add 2 Tbsp. olive or canola oil.  If you have too much whole wheat flour it just doesn't bake up as light and seems to heavy for french bread.

(Tomorrow I will be posting my recipe for Bruschetta which is a great way to use your homemade french bread and mozzarella!)