Tuesday, August 12, 2014

French Bread

You can make this as is, or spread some garlic butter on the dough before you roll it up, or my new fave is to add garlic cloves right into the dough! :)

1 TBS yeast
2&1/2 cups warm water
1 TBS sugar 
6 cups flour(I usually use unbleached all purpose)
1 TBS salt
5 TBS oil
2 TBS cornmeal
1 egg white, beaten

Mix together the yeast, water, and sugar and allow to proof(set until the yeast starts to get foamy) about 10 minutes. Mix in the salt, oil, and 1 cup of the flour. Then mix in remaining flour 1 cup at a time. Unless you have a stand mixer with a dough hook and you are lazy like me, then you can toss in the oil, salt, and all the flour at once and let it knead for 5 minutes or so. If not, once all the flour is mostly incorporated turn it out on a floured surface and knead it until it's smooth. Cover in an oiled bowl(unless you are lazy like me, and then just cover the mixer bowl) and let rise about 45 minutes, or until almost doubled. Roll out into 2 13X9" rectangles, then roll up and seal the ends. Sprinkle the cornmeal on a baking sheet, and place the loaves on the sheet. Cut 3 diagonal slices in the top with a sharp knife, and brush with egg white. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 30-35 minutes. Eat! And then thank me for those extra 5 lbs! ;)