Homemade French Bread |

So I have been trying and trying to make homemade French bread, but it has never worked before. Sure they were okay, but not quite perfect, ya know? This weekend my sister nailed it! You may have seen her comment on here as Cissy, a nickname I gave her. Anyways, she is a natural in the kitchen, and I have very happy to share this amazing recipe with you! It has a simple crust formed from the egg wash and steam and a wonderfully soft inside. Make this soon! 🙂

The recipe came from: http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2012/05/quick-french-bread/ . Cissy changed a few things the second time around and the bread was much more flavorful, so I have those revisions italicized.

Easy French Bread

By Leigh Anne at :yourhomebasedmom.com (recipe slightly adapted from Cooks.com)

Ingredients:

1/4 C warm water

2 1/2 tsp dry active yeast

1 tsp sugar

3 1/2 – 4 C flour

1 Tbsp sugar (2 Tbsp)

1 tsp salt (2 tsp)

1 C plus 2 Tbsp warm water (for slightly more moist bread add 1/4 cup more)

1 egg white and 1 Tbsp water

Combine water, yeast and 1 tsp sugar in a bowl. Allow to stand until bubbly. Add in sugar, salt and water. Gradually add in flour, mix well and knead for 5 minutes. Let rise for 15 – 20 minutes in a warm place. If you want to make two smaller loaves, divide dough in half. Flour a surface and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Then roll up the dough jelly roll style and turn ends under and place seam side down onto a greased cookie sheet. Cut 3 diagonal cuts into the loaf about 1/4 inch deep. Combine water and egg white and mix. Brush generously onto loaf. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Boil a pan of water. Pour water into a shallow dish and place on the lower rack in oven. TURN OFF OVEN. Place sheet with bread on the rack above the water. Let rise until double and then take out the pan of water. Turn oven onto 425 degrees and bake 10 minutes. Turn heat down to 375 and bake for 8 more minutes or until golden brown. (Note: When we made this we found that the bread was already done 5-7 minutes into the baking time at 425 degrees, so try that first and see how done your bread is so that it won’t burn!)