French Bread

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 Tbsp instant yeast (I use SAF brand.)
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 2 Tbsp canola oil (optional)
• 6 1/2 cups all purpose flour (approximately)

Instructions

1. 1

   In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Add salt, oil and 3 cups of the flour. Beat till smooth. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.

2. 2

   Cover dough and let it rise for an hour, punching it down if it reaches the top of the bowl.

3. 3

   Divide dough in half. To form loaves, roll each half of the dough into a rectangle about 13 inches long. Then roll it up tightly lengthwise (like you would with cinnamon rolls, just without the cinnamon). Seal the edges by pinching together tightly

4. 4

   Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Place the loaves on the cookie sheet and let raise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Brush the tops of the loaves with water and make diagonal slashes on top using a sharp serrated knife.

6. 6

   Bake at 375° for about 25 minutes or till lightly browned. Brush tops with butter if desired.