French Bread Recipe: Makes 3 loaves
Ingredients
- 1/8 cup yeast (3 packets)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 3 tablespoons shortening melted
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup milk -- scalded
- 2 cups hot tap water
- 10 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup semolina flour
Method
Pour lukewarm water in a bowl stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar and sprinkle yeast on top. Set aside to ferment. Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar, melted shortening, 4 teaspoons of salt, 1 cup scalded milk, and about 2 cups of flour. Mix till smooth. Add yeast. Add rest of flour and water, alternating flour and water until dough is thick, smooth and silky. place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Place dough in a bowl that is greased with butter. Cover with a damp cloth till double in size. Punch down and place on a lightly floured surface again. Cut dough into three equal parts. Form dough into long french bread loaves. Place loaves on a baking sheet coated with butter or lined with baking paper. Brush loaves with egg wash cover with damp cloth and let rise until loaves have doubled in size. Place in a 375 degree oven and bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and place on cooling racks.