Arts French Bread Not Bread Machine Recipes

ART'S FRENCH BREAD (NOT BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Pour the yogurt into a fairly large pan and add the hot water.
• Put 1 Tbs yeast on one side of the bowl and 1 Tbs on the other.
• Do the same with salt and sugar.
• DO NOT STIR this mixture.
• Let set until a scummy surface is formed.
• Then add 2 cups flour and stir.
• Add 2 more cups flour and continue mixing.
• Slowly add 2 more cups flour or slightly more until the dough becomes real pasty.
• Flour a bread board and knead the dough.
• Continue to knead until the dough becomes somewhat stiff.
• Place the dough in the bowl and let rise 1 hour, then punch it down and knead it again.
• Let it rise again, then cut into 3-4 loaves and form into loaf shape.
• Spread a light film of butter on foil or a baking sheet and sprinkle corn meal over the film of butter.
• Place the loaves on the foil 1½-2" apart.
• Mix egg white with a little water and a pinch of salt and paint the loaves with this mixture.
• Score the loaves.
• Bake on middle rack of oven at 375° 30-40 minute If the loaf sounds hollow when tapped with your finger, it's done.
• 3-4 loaves.

THE BEST FRENCH BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Add 3/4 cup water, salt, flour, parmesan cheese, garlic powder and yeast to bread machine pan in order suggested by manufacturer.
• Select dough/manual cycle.
• When cycle is complete, remove dough from machine to a lightly floured surface.
• Roll dough into a 15x10 inch rectangle.
• Beginning at long end, roll up tightly as for jelly roll.
• Pinch seams and ends to seal.
• Taper ends by gently rolling back and forth.
• Place loaf, seam side down on a greased baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Lightly brush loaf with oil.
• Cover and let rise in warm draft-free place until almost double in size, 10 to 15 minutes.
• With a sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep across the top of loaf.
• Lightly beat egg white and 1 tablespoon water; brush some of egg white mixture over top of loaf.
• Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.
• Brush again with remaining egg white mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until done- bread should sound hollow when tapped.
• Remove the bread from the baking sheet and cool on a wire rack.