French Bread

This bread is light and easy to make. You can replace the white flour with whole wheat flour if you like. This bread dough works great to use in breakfast rings or specialty breads requiring bread dough.

Stir together until honey is melted:

1 2/3 cups warm water

2 Tbsp. honey

Then slowly pour in:

2 Tbsp. yeast

Let stand for 5 minutes. Beat in the following:

2 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp. oil

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 cups flour

Beat for 5 minutes. Mix by hand, kneading when dough thickens, while adding the following:

3 ½ cups flour

Add only enough flour to form soft dough. Knead for about 10 minutes or until very light and elastic. Let rise in a warm place for 10 minutes. Punch down and let rise again. Repeat 5 times. Divide into 2 loaves. Roll each portion of dough into a rectangle. Roll up each rectangle along its length to form a long roll. Seal all seams well. Place in French bread pans or on cookie sheets. Cut diagonal slashes across tops. Brush with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake @ 350˚ for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.