FRENCH BREAD

This recipe is my mother in laws. I love french bread and never knew how to make it. Well one time when I was at her house she made it to go with some lasagne, and immediately I wanted the recipe. It is so yummy. I always figured that it was cheaper just to buy a loaf of french bread at the store for $1.50 then to make it...but that is not the case. It hardly takes any ingredients to make this recipe and you get TWO loaves. What a deal. Try it out and make it for dinner...everyone will be impressed!

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Yeast

2 Cups Warm Water

3 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Tablespoon Salt

5 Tablespoons Oil

5 Cups Flour

Directions:
1. In a bowl mix together your yeast and 1/2 cup of your warm water. Set your yeast and water aside and let it proof.

2. In another mixing bowl, mix together your sugar, salt, oil, and the remaining warm water. Mix this well.

3. Add in 3 of the cups of flour. Once that is mixed in, add your yeast mixture that has been proofing.

4. Once everything is mixed well, add your remaining 2 cups of flour. Knead this until your dough is smooth and pulling away from the sides of your bowl. Your dough should be somewhat stiff and sticky.

5. Let you dough sit for 10 minutes and then knead for 1 minute.

6. Repeat step 5 five times.

7. Once you have done this, cut your dough in half and roll each half into a long loaf.

8. Put your 2 loaves onto your greased french bread pan and slash each one three times at a diagonal.

*You can find french bread pans at most kitchen stores. I got mine at the Bosch Kitchen store in Orem, Utah. You can also purchase them online. I found some cheap ones HERE

9. This step is optional. If you want, lather the loaf with egg whites and then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

10. Let your dough rise for about 45 minutes.

11. Bake your bread at 350 for about 35 minutes. When your dough comes out the top will be really hard. Do not freak out, as it will become very soft as it cools.

12. Let your bread cool for 30 minutes and then serve.