30 Minute French Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water, divided
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (2 packets) active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons sugar divided
• 2 1/2 cups flour (all purpose, bread, kamut)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Melted butter for brushing on loaves (totally optional!)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the water, the yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Stir to combine and cover with a dish cloth or plastic wrap. Let the mixture stand about 5 minutes or until bubbly or foamy. It should double or triple in size.

2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of heavy-duty mixer, blend the flour, salt, the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar, and the yeast mixture. Gradually add water, 1 cup, and mix until the dough forms a smooth ball that is not too sticky to handle. (If the dough ends up too sticky, add a little more flour.) Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead briefly, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

3. Cut the dough in half and shape the halves into baguettes. Grease your baking sheet and place the loaves on the sheet. Score the loaves down the middle and cover with a dish towel and let rise in a warm place about 30 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.

4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 degrees and place a shallow pan of water in the bottom of the oven to create stream. Bake the baguettes for 15 minutes or until they have a hollow sound when tapped with a knife. If desired, brush the tops of the loaves with butter halfway through baking. For a softer crust, brush with butter when they have finished baking.

Makes 2 baguettes

recipe created: The Food Nanny (French Baguettes – The Food Nanny)