French Bread Recipe

 

Ingredients

 

Makes 2 loaves (16 slices)

• Yellow cornmeal

• 1 cup water

• 3 cups bread flour

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

• 1 slightly beaten egg white

• 1 tablespoon water

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Method:

1. Grease a large baking sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal; set aside.

2. Add the 1 cup water, the bread flour, salt, and yeast to the bread machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Select the dough cycle.

3. When cycle is complete, remove dough. Punch down. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough in half.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a 10x8-inch rectangle. Starting from a long side, roll up into a spiral; seal edge. Pinch and pull ends to taper.

5. Place, seam sides down, on prepared baking sheet. Combine egg white and 1 tablespoon water; brush some over top of loaves. Cover; let rise in a warm place for 35 to 45 minutes or until nearly double.

6. With a very sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep across the top of each loaf.

7. Bake in a 375°C oven for 20 minutes. Brush with remaining egg white mixture.

8. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes more or until bread sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Remove from baking sheet; cool on wire racks.