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!