French Loaves

Name: French Loaves
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons active dry yeast; 2 cups warm water (110° to 115°); 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon sugar; 4-1/2 to 5 cups bread flour; 1 teaspoon cornmeal

6 ingredients

6 steps

Ingredients

2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
4-1/2 to 5 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon cornmeal

Directions

1

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add salt, sugar and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
2

Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape into 12-in.-long loaves.
4

Place seam side down on a greased
5

. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
6

Preheat oven to 450°. Sprinkle loaves with cornmeal. With a sharp knife, make four shallow slashes across the top of each loaf. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.