Prep Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 5 oz (150 ml) warm water
- 1 envelope (1/4 oz / 7 gr) active dry yeast
- 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 4 cups (500 gr) unbleached white flour
- 1 1/2 tsp (10 gr) salt
- 1 egg
Preparation:
This basic bread recipe makes 1 baguette or 4 mini-loaves.
Note: Weather conditions such as humidity and temperature effect bread making. The quantities of flour and water required to make suitable dough may need to be adjusted.
Measure water into a glass or plastic cup. Heat water in a microwave for a few seconds - just until lukewarm. Mix in the yeast and sugar until completely dissolved. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
Measure flour and salt and mix together in a medium mixing bowl.
Using a wooden spoon, gradually stir in flour and salt mixture to water-yeast mixture. Stir in more water if needed, 2 tablespoons at a time until a soft dough is formed. Then, kneed the dough five or six times. Form the dough into a ball and leave in mixing bowl.
Wet a dish towel and cover the bowl. Place bowl in a warm place away from drafts and allow to rise for 40 minutes.
Kneed the dough 5-6 times and divide dough into 4 pieces. Form into 4 balls. Or, to make a baguette, divide into 2 pieces and form into 2 long pieces. Twist the 2 pieces together. Place dough on a baking stone or cookie sheet. Allow to rise in a warm place away from drafts for 15 minutes.
Turn on oven and heat to 425F (218C) degrees. Beat egg with 1 Tbsp water. Bake for 7 minutes, then remove from oven and brush on egg-water mixture. Return to oven and continue baking. When bread is done, remove from oven and allow to cool on rack.
