French Bread

This is a good recipe for making easy French Bread.


Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of instant rise yeast to 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar.


Add a total of 5 cups of flour adding one at a time. After adding the second cup of flour, mix in 1 tablespoon of salt. I add my salt later so it does not hinder the yeast. After the 5th cup of flour is mixed in, kneed for about 5 minutes.


Cover the dough and let it rise until double in bulk.


Turn it out and cut it in half.


Shape it into baguettes and place in pans or on cookie sheets dusted with cornmeal.


Brush each loaf with a mixture of 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon of water.

Slash each of the loaves along the top with a serrated knife.


I learned this lesson the hard way once when I did not slash my loaves and they exploded.


Place these in a cold oven and set it at 400 degrees. Bake for 35-45 minutes. If they get too dark place foil over them. If using a pan, slide them out about half way through baking so they will be very crisp.


The bottom and sides should be golden. Let them cool on racks.