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I started making my own bread a few weeks ago. Slowly, but surely my family will be eating much better. I want to know exactly what is in my food, so I am making as much as I can…from scratch. I’ve tried a dozen different bread recipes and this is by far the best one. Best tasting and the best one for sandwiches. I found this recipe in the instruction manual that came with my Sunbeam Breadmaker
I love that breadmaker. It doesn’t cost a lot and I primarily use it on the dough setting which means it will mix the dough and have it rise one time (takes about 1 hour 30 mins or so). I then take the dough out and knead it for a bit and shape it into a loaf and place it into a greased loaf pan where it rises for one more hour before baking. Very easy!
Classic French Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup + 2 TBSP. water (hot water)*
- 2 tsp. Butter or Margarine, softened
- 3-1/4 cups Bread Flour
- 1 TBSP. Sugar
- 1-1/2 tsp. Salt
- 2-1/2 tsp Active Yeast**
Steps:
- Put the ingredients into your breadmaker according to the directions for your maker. My machine requires that I put all liquid ingredients in first.
- You do not need to proof the yeast first. However, make a tiny “bowl” in the flour and pour the yeast in there, making sure not to have the yeast come in contact with any liquid.
- Set your breadmaker to the dough setting.
- Once the dough setting is over, dust your surface with flour and thoroughly dust your hands with flour. Take the dough out of the breadmaker and knead for about 5 minutes.
- Flatten the dough out and roll into the shape of a loaf, making sure to seal all seams.
- Place the dough in the loaf pan and cover with a damp cloth and allow the dough to rise one more time (about one hour).
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake the bread for 30 minutes.
- Let the bread cool on a wire rack before cutting.
Doesn’t it look delicious?!?
If you do not have a breadmaker, mix the dough by hand and knead, knead, knead (basically until your hands are tired!) and then place the dough in a greased bowl and let it rise for about 1 hour 30 minutes and then follow steps 5 through 8.
Enjoy your French bread!
I love making my own bread. The ingredients label on a store-bought loaf of bread is SCARY. Looks great!!!
Now I WISH I had a bread maker! lol Looks so yummy! I usually make pumkin bread & banana bread… so the homemade french bread sounds great!