French Bread

(oven 375)

Ingredients:

5 ½ – 6 cups flour

4 ½ tsp of dry yeast

2 tsp salt

2 cups warm water

cornmeal

1 beaten egg white (optional)

1Tbsp water (optional)

Step 1: Combine 2 cups of flour, yeast and salt. Add warm water and beat.

Step 2: Stir in remaining flour and continue to mix. When mixing with a spoon becomes hard, knead the remainder flour with hands until dough is elastic and smooth. Shape into ball and placed in greased bowl to rise and cover for 1-1 ¼ hours)

Step 3:Punch down and divide into half (or as many pieces as you want.). Cover and let rise 10 minutes.

Step 4: Shape and taper ends. Place on greased baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Press down ends of loaves. Brush with egg mixture. Cover and allow to rise 45 minutes.

Step 5: Make 3 cuts along top. Bake for 25-30 minutes. (Brush again after 15 minutes if desired)



Recipe taken from Better Homes Cookbook.