Homemade French Bread

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 ¾ warm water
• 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal or flour

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, mix 3-1/2 cups flour and salt. Using a rubber spatula, stir in yeast mixture to form a soft, sticky dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise at room temperature 1 hour.
2. Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; pat into a 9-in. square. Fold square into thirds, forming a 9×3-in. rectangle. Fold rectangle into thirds, forming a 3-in. square. Turn dough over; place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Punch down dough and repeat folding process. Return dough to bowl; refrigerate, covered, 2 hours.
4. Dust bottom of a large baking dish with cornmeal or flour. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead gently 6-8 times; shape into a 6-in. round loaf. Place in prepared pan. Cover pan and let rise at room temperature about 1-1/4 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 500°. Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 in. deep) across top of loaf. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake on lowest oven rack 25 minutes.
6. Reduce oven setting to 450°. Remove foil; bake bread until deep golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.

*Credit to Taste of Home

Rise #1

Rise #2