There is nothing like the smell of bread baking. Its so comforting.
This is THE easiest recipe for Baguettes (or French Bread, what most Texans call it.) It calls for four ingredients (I never count water as an ingredient, if you don’t have running water you probably shouldn’t be cooking!) and the ingredients are staples that most home bakers should have on hand.
And what does the bread taste like? Deliciousness. That’s what.
The crust is so crispy and perfect and the inside is very moist and airy. Next time I may make one large loaf (so I can make sandwiches) and I will try to make my cuts prettier, but there is nothing I can think of to improve the taste! Oh and I accidentally got sweet cream butter last week. Oh. Mah. God. So good on the bread straight out of the oven.
Simple Baguette
yield: 2 thin baguettes
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
cornmeal, for dusting
preheat oven to 425 degrees
1. Add the first three ingredients to your electric bread maker. Let rest for 5 minutes before adding the flour and turning the machine to the ‘dough’ setting. If you do not have a bread maker, you can make the dough as you would any other bread recipe and let rise until doubled its size. Finger Test: Poke your finger in the dough, if it smooths back out its not ready. If it stayed pushed in its ready.
2. Flour your work area and divide the dough in two pieces. Roll out each piece until it is as long as your baking sheet (mine were about 13 inches long), sprinkle some cornmeal on the baking sheet and place the dough on top and let rest one hour (preferably on top of oven as its preheating).
3. Using a serrated edge knife, cut three lines in the bread at an angle. Using a pastry brush, brush water on top of the bread and on the sides. (just a thin layer, it should stick to the dough, you don’t want water running down the sides)
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes (if you can wait that long) before slicing.
I’ve heard of affairsThat are strictly platonic,
But diamonds are a girl’s best friend.
And I think affairs
That you must keep liaisonic
Are better bets
If little pets get big baguettes.
(Never told yall this, but I LOVE Marilyn Monroe’s music (and showtunes, oh how I love old showtunes!!) A few of my favorite songs of hers are My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Bye Bye Baby, Heat Wave, and of course Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend.
