Wednesday, April 25, 2012

french bread

We bake lots of our own bread since we tend to favor a slightly less sweet bread 
than is usually available in the stores around these parts.

I hadn't tried baking French Bread before, but when I found this recipe, it quickly became a staple.
It's an easy and quick bread, and has a bit of that tangy French-bread flavor without all the work of using a sourdough starter.
With NO fats and only 2 tsp of sugar, it's almost healthy! :)

if you live where I do, rise that dough on top of an ant trap!

French Bread

1 1/4 cups very warm water
1 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups white flour

1 egg
1 Tblsp water

* Pour the warm water into a big bowl, and sprinkle the yeast on top.  Add the sugar, stir, and let it sit until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
* Add the salt and the flour, kneading it in until smooth and pliable; about 5 minutes.
* Let dough rise in the bowl for an hour, until double the size.
* Divide dough in 1/2 and shape into two logs; place loaves side by side on a greased cookie sheet.
* Cover and let rise for another 45 min. to an hour.

* Whisk the egg and water and brush over loaves.

if you don't have a pastry brush, a paper towel works just fine
 *Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes, until the loaves are golden brown. 

*Serve warm with butter, or with sandwich fillings.  
If you're like us, you won't have to worry about storing leftovers!


7 comments:

Judy said...

Mmmm. Looks good! I love french bread but have never tried making it. Probably should give it a try!

us5 said...

higher humidity apparently makes for a crispier crust, so they say to drop a handful of ice cubes in the floor of your oven as you begin to bake. :)

Elysa said...

This looks wonderful and we eat a lot of French bread living near the Coast and New Orleans. I've already decided I'm going to have to teach our maid how to make bread when we live in Swaziland, this recipe will have to be in her repertoire. Have you tried making it with part whole wheat?

Anonymous said...

Yummy ... thanks sweetie - dh

us5 said...

i haven't tried it with part wheat...let me know if it works! :)

us5 said...

i guess this truly means it's a keeper! ♥

Elysa said...

Okay, when I move there, remind me that I wanna try your French bread recipe! ;)