French Bread

Submitted by Barbara Barrow

My new favorite website is a cooking blog started by an old friend of mine. It is called Jame Cooks It Up! Jamie posts a new recipe every day and I have tried many of them. My family has not been disappointed at all. I credit Jamie for making me a better cook. Check out her website by clicking here. This recipe is one of my favorites. It makes delicious French bread and the dough can be used in other recipes. I am including the French bread recipe along with the two other recipes that use the dough. Enjoy!

Yields: 3 loaves

1 TB shortening
1 TB salt
2 TB sugar
1 Cup boiling water
1 Cup cold water
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 TB yeast
4 1/2- 6 Cup flour
1 egg

1. Place the 1 Cup hot water in the microwave for 3 minutes to get it boiling.


2. Dissolve the yeast into the warm water. Stir it around until it is all mixed.


3. Combine the salt, shortening, and sugar in the bottom of your mixer with a fork. The dough hook doesn't work very well.


4. Pour boiling water over the shortening mixture.


5. Pour the cold water over the mixture.


6. Pour the warm water and yeast into the mixer.


7. Begin to add the flour, one cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the side of the mixer.


8. Let the dough mix on high for 8 minutes.


9. Let the dough rise in the mixer for about 20 minutes.(This step can actually be skipped if you are in a hurry!)


10. Separate the dough into tree parts and place on a large jelly roll pan sprayed with cooking spray. Let the dough sit for about 5 minutes. Letting it sit will make is Much easier to shape.


11. Spread the dough out on the jelly roll pan.


12. Then roll the dough up from from long side to long side.


13. Then bring the ends over and layer them on top of each other.


14. Turn the loaf so the seams side is down. Repeat these steps with the other 2 parts of dough.


15. Spray a sharp knife with cooking spray.


16. Make your egg wash by whisking the egg until frothy.


17. Cut three diagonal slits in the top of each loaf. Cover with the egg wash being sure to get it into all the slits.


18. Place the loaves in a warm 170 degree oven and let rise for about 15 minutes. Turn the oven up to 375 degrees for a convection oven, and 400 degrees for a regular oven. Leave the loaves in while the oven increases in temperature.


19. Bake for 10 minutes for convection or 15 minutes for regular oven, or until the loaves are golden brown and crusty.


20. Turn the oven down to 325 for convection, 350 for regular and turn the pan around in the oven. Bake for another 7 minutes convection or 10 minutes for regular.

Click here to see this recipe on Jamie's website. She includes great pictures that may help with the preparation.