One of the best things about having a baby is that your friends and family bring you dinners. Between my loving church and our supportive school, our family received meals for 6 weeks! Let me just say: I love to cook, but I do NOT turn down any opportunity to have dinner fixed for me. EVER.
A sweet friend from church brought us a delicious dinner accompanied by a perfect loaf of french bread…that was homemade. Unlike my favorite artisan bread recipe, this lovely loaf is light, subtly sweet, silky in texture, with a slightly crisp crust. If you’re going to eat fluffy, white bread, you might as well enjoy it this fresh. Think spaghetti dinner, think french toast, think this bacon-cheesy goodness. Well, now you can stop thinking and start making…
Perfect French Bread
adapted from Taste of Home
1 package active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F), divided
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 egg
4-4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Add the sugar, shortening, salt, egg, remaining water, and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn the speed to medium and knead for 8 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Flatten into a rough rectangle. Fold in half long ways and pinch the seem. Fold in half long ways again, and pinch the seem. Turn the dough seam-side down and lightly roll from the center to the ends to double the length of the loaf. Place seam-side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with a dry towel and let rise until doubled.
Slash the loaf four or five times diagonally with a sharp knife.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Enjoy!
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Love this! I haven’t made french bread in several months, but the family loves it when I do! Your recipe is different than mine, I’m going to give yours a try
Thanks so much for sharing!!
xoxo
“If you’re going to eat fluffy, white bread, you might as well enjoy it this fresh.”
Amen!! I am going to try this recipe! I love me some good homemade carbs.
ps-that green milk-glass bowl is to die for!
Oh wonderful! My sweet neighbor just had her baby this morning. I think I will be making this for them on Sunday!! Thanks, Ruth!