French Bread

I love bread! But who doesn't?

My friend SnoWhite, over at Joy in my Kitchen has a wonderful french bread recipe that I make a bunch. It's easy and delicious and everywhere I take it gets rave reviews! She has a wheat version coming soon and I can't wait to try it!

No more talking and more writing on the bread recipe! So here it is...

French Bread (for the bread machine)-from SnoWhite

Printer-Friendly Recipe

Makes 1 1/2 lb loaf (enough for a family of 4)

1 cup + 1 Tbsp warm water (about 80 degrees F)

3 cups bread flour

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces

2 tsp active dry yeast OR 1 1/2 tsp bread machine/fast rise yeast

Depending on the order ingredients go into your bread machine... place ingredients in the machine. I combined mine the following way:

1. Place warm water in the bread maker

2. Butter, cut into chunks

3. Salt

4. 3 cups bread flour

5. Sugar

6. Yeast

Then set the bread machine on the dough setting and allow dough to knead. My setting takes about an hour and a half.

After dough cycle ends, remove dough and place on floured surface. Cover and allow dough to sit for 15 minutes.

Knead dough just a bit and shape into a loaf.

Cover, and let dough rise for 30 minutes. Rising a bit longer won't hurt it.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly spray a cookie sheet and bake for 15-25 minutes or until slightly browned on top. Mine usually takes 20-22 minutes.

Let cool a bit before cutting into. And enjoy!