French Bread Recipe

Homemade French Bread is perfect with almost any meal!

This recipe is based on the one I got from a sister at our church and it's great! I've made some alterations and you can choose to make it with white flour or heartier whole wheat. It goes well with any of our
Fabulous Falls Soups

Proof Yeast:

1 cup lukewarm water

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons yeast

Main Ingredients

5 lbs of flour

5 cups water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

1 heaping tablespoon salt
Proof 2 tablespoons yeast by adding it to the water and sugar mixture. Mix the 5 cups water, sugar, oil, salt and 5 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl, kitchenaid or bosch bread machine. Add the proofed bubbling yeast and mix. Add flour until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl or bread machine. It takes approximately 5 lbs of flour- but you should also have enough for kneading. Let raise twice and punch down. Divide into six equal portions. Shape each portion into a long loaf and place two on a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Brush the top with egg and cut slits in the top for decoration. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
I'm off to the football game so posting the whole wheat super hearty and healthy version is delayed. If you just can't wait substitute fresh ground whole wheat flour and 1 cup gluten flour. Have a great day!