French Bread in a Bread Machine

Okay the title of this blog is a little misleading.  You make the dough in the bread machine but then remove the dough to bake the bread.

I was able to start the dough before we left for church and then make it into a loaf when we got home.  Easy peasy!

The Imaginative One loves French bread, ciabatta bread, and pretzel rolls.  So he was happy when I baked a loaf of French bread.

Hubby loves flavored extra olive oil from a local shop.  I bough him a few more bottles for Valentine’s Day.  So when I was planning my Valentine’s Dinner, I decided a yummy yeasty bread would be great so that he could use his olive oil.  So he was happy when I baked a loaf of French bread.

Then I tried this bread.  Oh my goodness, I couldn’t stop eating slices of the bread with butter.  I had some for breakfast also.  So by the morning after Valentine’s Day, it was already eaten.

Bread Machine French Bread

adapted from Salad-in-a-Jar

Stars of the recipe:

• 1 c. lukewarm water
• 1-1/2 tsp. butter (1/2 Tbsp.)
• 1-1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1-1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 c. bread flour
• 1 tsp. instant yeast
• 1 egg white plus 1 Tbsp. water for glaze

Steps:

1. Place the ingredients in the bread machine in this order.
   1. water first
   2. butter
   3. sugar
   4. salt
   5. flour
   6. yeast last
2. Set the machine to dough.  Check on the dough after 5 to 10 minutes.  If too sticky, add 1 Tbsp. of flour at a time until dough is perfect.  If too dry, add 1 Tbsp. of water at a time until dough is perfect.
3. After the dough is finished, pull out of the pan.  Place on a floured surface.  Pat out into a rectangle.
   (My attempt at making the rectangle)
4. Starting at the long end, roll into a cylinder shape.
5. Pinch the seams together.  Place seam side down on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
6. Tuck the ends under the cylinder.  Pinch the seam together.
   
7. Cover with a clean towel.  Place in a warm place.  Allow the dough to double in shape.
8. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. After the dough has risen, brush the dough with the egg white and water glaze.  Then cut slits in the dough about 2 inches apart – 1/2 inch deep.
10. Bake in oven for 20 minutes.
11. Decrease the temperature to 350 degrees.  Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
12. Remove from oven.  Allow to cool for at least 2 hours before slicing.

I cut off some of the dough before baking so that the Imaginative One and I could taste the bread before dinner.  It ended looking like a heart.

Happy eating,
Traci