We got this recipe for homemade French bread years ago from my mom’s cousin. It is so good. The only problem with it is that your family will never eat store bought French bread again LOL! I make mine brown and serve, then wrap it in foil and put it in the freezer. One minute in the microwave to defrost and five minutes in a 425 oven and you’re set. I made a double batch last weekend so I have some on hand.
Ingredients:
1 package yeast (I use rapid rise because it goes so much faster)
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon butter
4 1/3 cups flour
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water. To that, add the sugar, salt, butter and flour. Knead together, adding more flour if needed, 5-10 minutes. Place in a large greased bowl, cover and raise until double, about 1 1/4 hours for regular rise yeast. (My bread rising secret: heat your oven to 200 degrees. Once it reaches temperature, turn it off. When you put the dough in to rise, cover it with plastic wrap.)
Divide in half. Roll each half into a rectangle about 14″ long and roll it up like a jelly roll. Pinch shut. Sprinkle the pan with cornmeal.
Place bread on the pan, making diagonal slashes with a paring knife. Raise for one hour, uncovered.
If you are baking it to eat right away, bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. If you are making brown and serve, bake at 325 for 15 minutes or until just beginning to brown. The color isn’t the best in this picture, but you get an idea of what it should look like for brown and serve.
Freeze once cooled and follow the directions above. Delicious! Great with soup, spaghetti, lasagna – pretty much everything. There is nothing like fresh French bread. Even when made brown and serve, it is just as fresh as when it is first made.
