French Bread

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups water
7-8 cups all purpose flour
1 eggwhite
1/4 cup cornmeal

Direction:

Dissolve yeast in water. In a bowl, combine sugar, salt, water and about 1 cup flour to form a soft dough. Stir in dissolved yeast and enough flour to make a moderately stiff dough. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let it rise until double in bulk.

Punch down dough to expel excess air. Divide dough into two equal portions. Shape each portion into long tapered loaves. Get a french bread tray. Grease it and dust with cornmeal. Arrange loaves on prepared tray. Cover and let rise until doubled.

Before baking, make slashes diagonally on the surface. Brush with eggwhite and dust with cornmeal. Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 15-20 minutes.


Servings: 2 loaves.