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Crusty French Bread

List of Ingredients

1/4 C Warm Water (105*-115*)
1 t Sugar
2 t (1 Pkg) Dry Yeast
3/4 C plus 2 T Warm Water
2 t Sugar
1 T Butter
1 t Salt
3-3 1/2 C Flour

Egg White
Sesame Seeds, Poppy Seeds or Coarse (Kosher) Salt, opt.


Recipe

Combine first 3 ingredients and let sit 5 minutes to proof.
Combine 3/4 C + 2 T Water, 2 t Sugar, Butter, Salt and 1 C Flour in large bowl. Stir in Yeast mixture and enough remaining Flour to make a soft dough.
Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 5 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl, cover with wax paper and tea towel, let rise in warm spot 1 hour or until double in bulk.
Punch down and divide dough into 2 or 4 balls.
Place dough on greased pans. Slit with a sharp knife or razor blade. Let rise 40 minutes in warm spot covered with greased wax paper.
Brush with Egg White and sprinkle with Sesame Seeds, Poppy Seeds or Coarse (Kosher) Salt.
Place a pan with boiling water on floor of oven.
Bake @ 400 20-25 minutes.