Somethin's Cookin' So Let's Eat: French Bread

My husband Kent made this easy French bread and it tastes delicious!
It's good with butter and jam, made into garlic toast or
french toast for breakfast! We used it to dip into pesto and olive oil with our dinner last night.

My handsome romanticle husband Kent the Chef!

½ c. hot water

2 T. yeast

1 T. sugar

2 c. hot water

2 T. sugar

3 tsp. salt

5 T. oil

6 c. flour

Dissolve yeast and sugar in ½ c. hot water, stir and set aside.

Mix remaining ingredients, in a large mixing bowl, first add only 3 c. of flour and stir well......

Add yeast mixture. stir.

Add balance of flour and stir into a ball.

Leave spoon in batter and let dough rest 10 minutes. Stir down dough and let rest again for 10 minutes.

Repeat the stirring of dough and 10 minute rest period 3 more times. (this timing ends up being 1 hour)

flour surface and place dough on top of flour. Divide dough in half. Roll each half out into a rectangle shape (approximately 9x12 inches) and roll up like a jelly roll, tuck ends under and place on a well greased (Crisco shortening works great)baking sheet. Don't fuss over them looking perfect, they will taste wonderful!

Brush tops with beaten egg white, sprinkle with sesame seeds (opt.) cut diagonally 3 times across the top of each loaf.
( a serrated knife works well)

Let rise until double in size.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. When completely cool, store in plastic bread sacks.