French Bread

by

Morwen

I know that I haven't been posting on here as regularly as my dear sister has.  Sorry about that.  But here is our recipe for French Bread.

1 cup + 2 T  Milk

2 1/2 T  Oil

1 T  Honey

1 1/4 t  Salt

3 1/2 cups  Flour

1 1/2 t Instant Dry Yeast

 Put all of the ingredients into the pan of your bread machine.  Set machine to Dough setting (my machine's dough setting is 1:40 min) and start.  When the machine beeps, take out the dough and let it rest on a floured surface for 10 min.  Meanwhile prepare baking sheet by sprinkling it with cornmeal.  After the dough has rested, divide into two loaves, place on baking sheet, slice the top, then let rise for 15 minutes.  Bake in preheated oven on 350 for 15 min or until golden brown.  The baking time will vary depending on how much moisture is in the air.

Here are the instructions for making it if you aren't using a bread machine.

 In bowl, combine half of the Flour, and all of the Yeast and Salt.  Heat Milk and Honey, add to bowl also add the oil.  Beat on low speed for 30 sec. high speed for 3 min.  With wooden spoon, stir in as much Flour as possible (the other half).  On lightly floured surface, knead in enough flour to make a stiff dough that is smooth and elastic.  Let rise until double(1 hour).  Punch dough down.  Divide in half, cover, let rest on lightly floured surface for 10 min.  Shape into 2 loaves, place on cormealed baking sheets.  Follow above instructions for baking.