Daily Bread

Here is my Recipe for Basic French Bread.  I use it as my pizza crust, breadsticks, french bread, rolls, sandwich bread, soft pretzels, cinnamon swirl bread....you get the idea!  

Yields 2 loaves

1 1/4 c warm water (like the temperature of a bathtub that makes you say ahh, that feels nice)

2 1/4 tsp yeast (or 1 package)

2 tsp sugar

3 1/2 c flour

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp oil (optional)

1.  Combine Water, Sugar, and Yeast.  Cover with plastic wrap or towel and let rest 10 minutes.  This is called proofing the yeast.  It will get nice and bubbly/foamy.  This is also a good way to test and make sure your yeast is still active.

2.  Add Flour and Salt.  Mix with dough hook in kitchen aid on level 3 for 5 minutes or knead by hand for 10 minutes. Rub oil inside bowl and return dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Sometimes if I am in a hurry/impatient I let dough rise only 30 minutes or skip this rise completely and just shape into loaves) 

3.  Punch down dough and shape into bread loaves, rolls, pizza crust...whatever you are baking.  Slice tops of loaves to allow for rising.  Let dough rise for 30 minutes.  

4.  Bake 400* for 10 minutes and reduce heat to 375* then bake for additional 15 minutes.  Every oven varies on time.  If you want bread crusty keep temperature at 400* but watch closely so it doesn't get too brown.  

Helpful Tips:

If making during winter when it is cold in the house, I wash by kitchen aid bowl with hot water to bring the temperature of the bowl up to help quicken the proofing and rising times.  

Adjust rising times as necessary.  During the winter you may need to let it rise longer.  During the summer, it may rise very fast.  

For a fast rise, preheat oven to 150* then turn off.  Place baking sheet with dough inside and let rise 20-30 minutes.

I have found this dough recipe to be very forgiving!!! 

My husband loves coming home to warm bread fresh out of the oven and dipping in olive oil and Italian seasoning.  Give it a try and enjoy the smell of homemade bread throughout your 
home! 

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy