French Bread

By AmberK

Ingredients

• 3 to 3 1/2 cups all purpose or bread flour
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 package regular or active dry yeast
• 1 cup very warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• Cornmeal
• 1 large egg white
• 1 Tbsp. cold water
• Poppy seed or sesame seed

Details

Servings 2
Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 55mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. Mix 2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast in large bowl. Add warm water and oil. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle (dough will be soft). turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead abut 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic.

2. Place dough in greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place 1 1/2 and 2 hours or until double. Rising time is longer than times for traditional breads, which gives the typical French bread texture. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

3. Grease large cookie sheet with shortening, sprinkle with cornmeal.

4. Punch down dough and divide in half. Roll each half into rectangle, 15 x8 inches on a lightly floured surface. Roll up tightly, beginning at 15 inch side, to form a loaf. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Roll gently back and forth to taper ends. Place both loaves on cookie sheet.

5. Cut 1/4 inch deep slashes across loaves at 2-inch intervals with sharp knife. Brush loaves with cold water. Let rise uncovered in warm place about 1 hour or until double.

6. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix egg white and 1 Tbsp cold water brush over loaves. Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seed.

7. Bake 25-30 minutes or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.