Home made bread is a treasure to have in your repertoire. It’s simple and mostly foolproof. The most important thing to make sure that your yeast is fresh so proof it and if it becomes foamy, it’s active.

5 cups flour (3 regular and 2 bread). But I use all purpose entirely and it’s a hit.

1 tbsp salt into the flour

In two cups warm water sprinkle 1.5 tbsp and 1tbsp sugar into the warm water. Stir and let sit for ten minutes. This is proofing. If it becomes foamy you can now put it in your mixer (I use my kitchenaid wisk attachment first.) Now wisk on low for five minutes adding your flour first two cups and then a cup at a time. Now change for your bread hook and knead  for five minutes or so. Remove the dough to your hard surface with a dusting of flour and knead for 5 more minutes. Use enough flour to keep it from being sticky.

Into a clean oiled bowl put your dough turning it over to coat the other side and cover and let rise for two hours. It should about triple. Punch it down and let rise again for another hour. This could make 3 baguettes but what I did was make two medium baguettes and a “Boule” which you see here.

So form your bread as you like, slice shallow scores into the top of your loaves and glaze with a mixture of egg and water.

Place in your cool oven set to 400 F with a handful of ice cubes – pro trick to make your crust crisp and shiny.

35 – 40 Minutes later you will have yourself some wonderful bread.

Honestly, so easy and so delicious-besides how it fills your home with the aroma of fresh warm bread.