Basic French Bread
By request.... this is my go-to bread recipe, which never lasts the night in my house. It uses olive oil, and I recommend using a high-quality one for best results. If you are so inclined to use a flavored olive oil, it will make a flavorful bread. You can scatter dried herbs on the dough when you bake it for yummy results. I use my stand mixer for this. If you don't have one, stir the dough with a wooden spoon and knead by hand for 10 minutes. That's really boring, so I prefer the stand mixer. I add a couple of tablespoons of bread enhancer as well, but I haven't been able to find it in a while. You'll get fine results without it. I also recommend using bread flour rather than all-purpose, but your mileage may vary. BASIC FRENCH BREAD 1 packet dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp.) 1 tsp. sugar 1 c. warm water 2 1/2 c. flour 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt In the large bowl of a stand mixer, combine dry yeast, sugar and warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes u...