Fabulous French Bread

This morning I started out the day making french bread. It has awhile yet before I can savor the aroma of it baking, but I thought I'd share my recipe. I use a stand mixer, so if you're doing this without one, you will have to knead it with your hands 8 minutes before the first rising.

Fabulous French Bread

2 tsp. Instant Yeast
2 1/2 cups 110 degree water (hot but not steaming)
5 Tbl. Olive Oil
1 Tbl. Honey
1 tsp. Salt
6 +\- cups Flour

If you have a stand mixer, use the bread hook.

In a mixing bowl combine yeast and water. Add Oil then Honey (that way the honey doesn't stick to the measuring spoon). Add 3 cups of flour. Add Salt. Add remaining flour and up to a cup extra until the dough pulls away from the bowl. Knead for 6 minutes.

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Place dough into bowl and cover with sprayed plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled.

Punch it down and knead the air out for a few minutes. Divide dough into three equal portions; set two aside. Flour a bread board or you can use your counter top and roll out the first portion to a large rectangle. Roll up from the long side. You can also brush the rectangle with butter before rolling. Place rolled dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Make three slits about 1/4" deep on the top diagonally. Repeat process with the other two portions of dough.

Cover baguettes with sprayed plastic wrap and let rise until doubled. Bake at 400 degrees until the tops are lightly golden in color. Take it out and flip one loaf over. Knock gently on the bottom. If it sounds hollow, then it's done. If not, put it back in for 5-10 minutes.

Cool on a rack to prevent the bottom from being soggy. Once I get this out of the oven, it usually doesn't last until it's cool. Enjoy!