Homemade French Bread

My wonderful mother-in-law has a great french bread recipe that I would love to share with you. I have been in love with this bread since the first time I had it over 10 years ago. I have never asked for the recipe because I thought that I couldn't make it myself. But, now that I have a Kitchen Aid Mixer and have been practicing baking/cooking for the past year... I figured I should give it a shot. She shared the recipe with me and my sister-in-law, Mysha, last weekend. It is easy to make and tastes delicious!

The recipe makes two loafs. Keep them both for yourself or give one to a friend!

Ingredients

• 2 packs of Active Dry Yeast
• 1/2 cup of very warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 6 cups of flour
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 2 cups of warm water
• Crisco (just to coat bowl for rising)

Directions

1. Proof your yeast in the 1/2 cup of very warm water and 1 tbsp of sugar. (NOTE: you do not have to proof your yeast if you don't want to. It is just a smart thing to do to ensure that your yeast will work. If you skip this step and your yeast doesn't work (aka your bread doesn't rise) then you will be out of all of your ingredients! If you chose to skip this step, then you can just add the yeast to the dry ingredients in the step below and add the 1/2 cup of warm water to the 2 cups listed below).

2. While your yeast is proofing, add 2 cups of water, 1/2 tbsp of salt and 2 cups of flour into your mixing bowl. Blend together and then mix in the  

    yeast.

3. Slowly add the remaining 4-4 1/2 cups of flour. I used the paddle 

    attachment for these steps.

4. Change over to your dough hook and knead the dough for 10-15 minutes.

5. Lightly coat your rising bowl with Crisco (I used a paper towel to apply).

6. Place the dough ball into the glass bowl and then flip the dough over so 

    that the greased side is facing up. Let dough rise for 1 hour (or until double in size) in a warm room.

7. Punch down the dough and let it rise another 30 to 45 minutes.

8. Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into two. Cover and let rest for 

    10 minutes.

9. Roll out each half into a large rectangle (about 15x12 in.).

10. Roll up the dough tightly, beginning at long side. Make sure that you seal 

     well while your roll.

11. Cover the dough loaf with a hand towel and let rise for 30 minutes.

12. Place each loaf, seam side down, onto a baking sheet. Bake for 20 

     minutes at 375 degrees.

13. Brush with water and bake another 15-20 minutes or until done. Cool and 

      serve.