French Bread
traditional as the bread served in France.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tablespoons / Instant yeast ( 4 1/2 teaspoons )
1/2 cup Warm water
1 1/2 tablespoons Sugar
1 1/2 cups Water
1 1/2 tablespoons Oil
2 1/4 teaspoons Salt
5 - 6 cups All- purpose flour
Method:
1. In a mixing bowl, combine yeast, warm water and sugar. Let it proof for
10 minutes.
2. Add the 2 cups water, oil, salt and 3 cups of flour first. Mix until flour is
incorporated.
3. Then add the remaining 3 cups of flour gradually. Knead about 5 minutes.
This bread is incredibly tender which means the dough is going to be softer and stickier.
(Clue: you can tell you've added enough flour and kneaded long enough when you can
off a bit of dough and easily roll it into a little ball in the palm of your hand )
4. Turn out the dough onto a generously floured surface. Use a plastic scraper to
help pulling dough out from the mixing bowl.
5. Knead the dough and shape into a ball. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
Knead the dough 3 more times every 10 minutes for the next hour. Just punch
the dough down and fold it over a few times, then gather it back into a ball.
( I turn the dough out from mixer at 4.20pm, your last quick knead will be at 5.10pm
and the dough will be ready to be shaped at 5.20pm ).
Step 5 is critical to the making of French bread as this step will give the crust a nice,
characteristically french bread chewiness. It's not crucial that the kneading takes place
at exact 10 minutes intervals, and it's not crucial that you do it for exactly 1 hour. Just
ensure that you knead at least 4 times in the next hour.
6. Next shape dough into 4 equal loaves. Push each divided dough into a rough rectangle
shape. Then roll it up and pinch it so it stays together. Place the pinched side down
on a greased or lined cookie pan.
7. Beat 1 egg white with a dash of water. Brush the egg mixture over the loaf. Make sure
it's all covered. Any part not covered with the egg mixture will turn up pale.
( Alternative: if you want a softer yet still deep golden crust, mix together 1 egg yolk and
1 tablespoon milk. Brush over entire loaf before baking.)
8. Make 3 diagonal lines into the top of bread.
9. Let it rise until double in size ( about 30 minutes ).
10. Bake in preheated oven at 190 degree C for 30 minutes.
Serve warm with Garlic Herb Spread.
To make homemade Garlic Herb Spread ( Boursen Cheese Spread )
Ingredients:
113g Butter
226g Cream cheese
1 clove Garlic
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Basil
1/2 teaspoon Chicken seasoning
Method:
Let butter and cream cheese come to room temperature. Then stir all to combine.
Spread onto warm freshly baked french bread.
Coo.....ling the fresh french bread on the rack after baking.
Crusty and chewy loaf that are so good and so much better than those bought from the bakery store.
and rising in the oven.........
....... so savoring the delectable garlic herbs with freshly baked french bread can begin immediately!
Also the leftover french bread makes GREAT garlic bread. Just slather some garlic spread
on the bread slices and toast them in the oven.
It has the perfect amount of crispiness with garlic infusing in every bite.
Store in airtight container to retain its crispiness and freshness longer.
So enjoy!
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