7.17.2009

Easy French Bread

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cooking oil
2 tsp salt
2 cups hot tap water
4 1/2 - 5 cups flour
2 Tbsp instant yeast

Mix in order given, mixing the yeast with a little flour and adding that while dough is still very soft. Add enough flour to make a dough that holds together in a ball shape and is not sticky if you handle it with floured hands. Cover.
Let rise until double, about 1/2 hour. Divide in half.

Roll out to about 12x15” rectangle. Roll up jelly roll style and place on greased cookie sheet. Cut diagonal slits on top. Let rise about 30 - 45 min. Brush with mixture of 1 egg and 2 Tbsp milk, beaten with fork.
Bake at 400F for 20 min, or until golden.

For Pizza:
Instead of rolling out the dough, just divide and press onto
2 pizza pans. Bake at 400F until light golden - just done.
About 12 minutes.
Spread lightly with pizza or spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with
Parmesan cheese. Cover with any cold cuts you want . . .
ham, salami, pepperoni, cooked hamburger (left over sloppy
joe sauce) or cooked chicken, slivered peppers, grated cheese
(mozzarella, or assortment). Sprinkle with oregano and basil.
Bake at 375, about 15 min.

focaccia bread:
Add about 1 Tbsp of each, thyme, oregano, rosemary
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and 1- 2 tsp garlic powder
to the dough, as you're mixing it. Cover and let rise.
Press dough into greased pan. Make indentations and brush
with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan and rosemary (optional)
Cover and rise 1/2 hour. Bake until light golden, time depends
on size of pan.
I kind of wing it with this one (check other recipes, etc)
and haven't totally got it to where I like it as much as
Olive Garden's. If anyone can help me out, please do!

for dipping:
Use any kind of combination of flour and grains that you like,
roll out to make a long skinny loaves (baguettes) and slice at
an angle.

Maybe this is too much information, but it's there to give you ideas on what you can do and I hope you try something new and enjoy it.

Recipe credit

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