Mini French Bread Loaves Serves 2 Recipes

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar, seasonings, cheeses and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down; divide in half. Roll each half into a 15x10-in. rectangle. Roll up from long side; seal well. Cut each into three 5-in. loaves; seal ends. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush loaves with water. Cover with plastic wrap coated with cooking spray; let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes With a very sharp knife, make three shallow diagonal cuts across top. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack Brush with butter.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add salt, sugar and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape into 12-in.-long loaves., Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 450°. Sprinkle loaves with cornmeal. With a sharp knife, make four shallow slashes across the top of each loaf. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Steps:

• Starter.
• Combine water and yeast in a large bowl and mix well.
• Add ¾ cup flour and whisk 100 times.
• Cover and let set one hour.
• Dough.
• Add an additional tsp of dry yeast, 6 cups of (room temp.) water, 4 cups of flour and kosher salt to starter mix.
• Whisk 50 times and let stand 2 minutes.
• Using a large spoon mix in 2 cups of flour until well incorporated.
• Add 3 cups of flour and mix until well incorporated.
• Add another 3 cups of flour and mix until well incorporated.
• Let dough rest 5 minutes.
• Cover working surface with generous amount of flour (about a cup).
• Turn soft wet dough onto surface and sprinkle with flour.
• Dip your hands in flour and knead the dough.
• (Push it down and forward with the heel of one hand. Then pull dough back from the top and fold dough over with the other.).
• Gradually add the last cup of flour as you knead for about 5 minutes.
• Shape dough into a ball and return to large bowl that has been lightly coated with 1 ½ tsp olive oil.
• Brush top with ½ tsp olive oil.
• Cover and let rise until doubled (approx an hour).
• Deflate the dough, turn out unto a floured surface and knead for about a minute.
• Separate dough in half.
• Separate each half in half.
• Divide these pieces into fourths.
• (You should have 16 pieces. And sometimes I get 18 pieces-- lol).
• Shape each piece into a tight ball and place on a greased baking sheet (up to 6 to a sheet).
• Let rise for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450F and place oven racks in the center of the oven.
• Place a pan of water under the racks where the bread will bake.
• Place loaves in hot oven for ten minutes.
• *Spray/sprinkle loaves with water.
• Reduce heat to 400F and continue baking for 10-12 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• Paint w/ butter or oil for a softer crust (optional).
• *For crustier loaves keep the 450F bake time to 20 minutes and omit 400F bake & water spritz.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with 2 cups water, 3 cups flour, salt, sugar and vegetable oil; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 9- x 12-inch rectangle and roll up jelly roll style, starting at long edge. Seal edges and place seam side down on a large baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Use a sharp knife to slash each loaf diagonally 3 times. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cover and allow to rise 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Steps:

• 1. Combine the yeast and 1 cup of warm water (105-115 degrees) in large bowl,stirring until dissolved.
• 2. Mix in oil,garlic,and salt
• 3. Add 2 cups flour and stir till smooth.Stir in enough additional flour untill the dough forms a ball.
• 4. Knead dough on floured surface and add more flour if too sticky.Knead till smooth and elastic.
• 5. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover in a warm place to rise until its double in size,about 1 hour.
• 6. Punch down dough and divide into two loaves.Shape each dough into a loaf about 9 inches long.
• 7. Place loaves on greased baking sheet.Make three 1/2 diagonal cuts on the top.
• 8. Loosely cover with plastice wrap and let dough rise 20-30 minutes.
• 9. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-18 minutes till golden brown.

Steps:

• In bread machine pan, place the first six ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed)., When the cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into four portions; shape into 6-in. loaves. Place on a greased baking sheet. Cut slits in the top of each loaf. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk and water; brush over dough. Sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired. Bake at 375° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.