Friday, March 30, 2018

Easy Peesy French Bread

We are a low-carb family, but I make a loaf of this bread once or twice a month because sometimes you just gotta have fresh-made bread! Even if you work full-time, you can have a yummy loaf of bread ready with your dinner within an hour of walking in the door! Try it soon - I don't think you will be disappointed!


The basic recipe is from My Mundane and Miraculous Lifebut I have tweaked it over time to make the most perfect loaf of bread for our family!

Here is her recipe with my tweaks in red.

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups warm water (use a thermometer and make sure it is 110°F)
1 Tbl honey
1-1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbl active dry yeast (or 2 of those small packets)
3-1/2 to 4-1/2 cups flour

Directions:
1. Combine the water, honey, salt and yeast in a glass bowl. Let sit for 5-10 mins. until there’s some bubbling, foam stuff on the top. (I combine the water, honey and salt first. Then I add the the yeast on top and make sure the yeast is wet. I let mine sit for the full 10 minutes).



2. Next, add a bunch of flour. I used just regular white organic flour. You want your dough to be sticking to itself, not your fingers. So, keep adding flour and keep kneading until that happens. (I start off with the 3-1/2 cups of flour. You want as little flour as possible in order to make sure it isn't too dense once baked. I have left it a bit sticky on my fingers and all has turned out well. ).


3. Form the dough into a loaf shape. Cover with a towel and let sit on the counter for 20 mins. This is the time to set the oven to 400 degrees. (I put my dough in the oven on the Warm setting instead of letting it sit on the counter. I seem to get a bigger loaf this way.) You can shape this into a typical French Loaf oblong shape if you prefer. I am going to try to cook this in a loaf pan next time!


4. After 20 mins., cut slits in the top and bake for 16-20 mins. (I do not cut the slits in the top and I do check the loaf with a quick knife stuck in the center to make sure it comes out clean. I cook mine for 18 minutes turning the oven to 400°F while letting the bread cook while the oven comes up to temperature).


Julie's Notes: "I’ve started adding garlic powder to the dough and sprinkling the top with oregano and some small pieces of butter to melt all over during the baking. Oh. My. Word."

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