French Country White Bread Recipe Recipe Cards

FRENCH COUNTRY BREAD

Steps:

• The night before baking the bread prepare this starter: In a medium sized non-metal mixing bowl dissolve 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast in 1 cup warm water. Add 1 1/2 cup bread flour and mix well. Cover and let sit overnight at room temperature.
• The next day: In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the 2 teaspoons yeast in the 2 cups warm water. Add the starter mixture, the whole wheat flour, 3 cups bread flour and the salt; stir until well combined. Add the remaining bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into the prepared pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

COUNTRY WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, eggs, oil and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch down dough. Divide in half and shape into loaves. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375°., Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

FRENCH WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Insert the dough hook into your mixer.
• In large mxing bowl, dissolve the yeast in 3/4 cup warm water.
• Add the starter, salt, sugar and 1 1/2 cups flour.
• Mix on medium until smooth and flour is incorporated, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Cover and let rise for 60 to 90 minutes or until double in bulk.
• On low speed of mixer, slowly add remaining flour and baking soda.
• Knead dough for 5 to 7 minutes with dough hook.
• The dough should have a satin texture and form a ball, cleaning sides of the bowl.
• Shape the dough into a ball and let rest on a floured board for 10 minutes.
• Form into a French loaf, place on greased cookie sheet that has been lightly dusted with cornmeal.
• Make 3 to 5 diagonal slashes on top of loaf with sharp knife or scissors.
• Cover and let rise 90 minutes.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.
• When baked the loaf will be nicely brown and sound hollow when tapped with knuckles.

COUNTRY WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Mix together water, buttermilk and oil.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of flour and mix with a wooden spoon till smooth.
• Add sugar and eggs stir together till smooth.
• Mix in the salt.
• Then stir in yeast.
• Allow to sit uncovered for 15 minutes. Then add flour a 1/2 cup at a time. Stir till it becomes to hard to mix. Place some flour onto the counter and continue to slowly add remaining flour till the dough is just a little bit sticky (note you may not need all the flour).
• Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes till smooth and elastic (stand mixer 5-6 minutes with a dough hook). Place dough into a lightly oiled bowl.
• Spray the top of the dough with an oil spray. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place for about 1 hour.
• Pour out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut dough in half and degas the dough.
• Shape dough into 2 rectangles the length of a 5x9 loaf pan. Roll the dough like a jelly roll being sure to lightly press with each rotation of the dough. Pinch the seam closed with your fingers.
• Place into two greased 5x9 loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise till double in bulk about 45-60 minutes.
• After the dough has proofed, make egg wash and brush the tops of the loaves. Wait 5 minutes then brush again.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. If you place a thermometer into the center of the loaf it should register between 180 degrees or when you tap the bottom of the loaf it sounds hollow.
• Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack.