Basic French Bread Recipe

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Bread-making may seem difficult, but the process is really quite simple and the actual working time is minimal, especially when using a food processor. Although the aroma of baking bread is a reward in itself, the satisfaction of serving up the finished product is the real payoff.

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Servings:

Ingredients

3 cups flour, plus a little extra in case you need it
1 package dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar or honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 cups water

Container:French bread pan (baguette pan) or baking sheet

Directions

PREP

3 hrs

COOK

30 mins

Dissolve sugar in warm water; sprinkle dry yeast over water and leave until the yeast gets frothy - 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, put flour and salt in food processer and pulse briefly to mix. Pour in the frothy yeast water and process 30- 40 seconds. The dough should form a rough ball.
Put the dough into a fairly large bowl (to allow for its volume when raised) and let rise, covered, in a warm draft-free place, until it has almost doubled in volume, about an hour. (Tip: to create a warm, draft-free place, microwave a glass of water for 2 minutes then put the dough in the microwave to rise along side the heated water.)
Sprinkle a little flour on a work surface. Scrape out the dough onto the floured surface and divide in half. Press and knead each piece for a minute to get out any air bubbles, then roll into cigar-shaped loaves to fit the baking pan(s). Put loaves into lightly oiled pan(s). Make several diagonal slashes in the top and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise until almost doubled, about an hour.
When the dough seems almost risen, preheat oven to 425. Bake for 25 -35 minutes. The bread is done when the bottom of the of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pan to cool.

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