Baguettes

I have been making bread for quite a few years now, but I have never made a baguette or a french loaf. Well wait no more! I did it and boy am I glad I did. Just look at that beauty. Take another look. Now make one for yourself.

Recipe:                                                                  
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tbsp sugar
2tsp yeast
1/2 tsp salt
3-4 1/2 cups flour

Method:
Note: the yeast I use can be added with the flour and does not start in the water like traditional yeast.

In the bowl of your mixer, add the water and sugar. Add the flour, but hold back about 1 1/2 cups. Add the yeast.  turn your mixer on and knead the dough for 2-3 minutes. If it still is very wet and sticky, like the picture on the left, add 1/2 cup of flour and again let your mixer go for another couple of minutes. You want to see a mound of dough beginning to form in the middle of the bowl. If you don't see this happening, add for flour. If you see see a mound forming in the center of the bowl, don't add anymore flour. Let your mixer do it's thing for another 5 min. The dough should then begin to pull away from the sides of the bowl and actually "clean" the sides. It will look like the picture on the right. Once you have a smooth soft dough,  remove it from the bowl and rub it with oil. Put it back to the bowl, cover it with saran wrap or a cloth and let it sit until it almost doubles in size. This could take anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on the temperature in your room.

 

 

Once the dough has doubled in size,  set it out on a floured surface and divide it into to equal pieces. I didn't take pictures of the next part of the process, but I will next time and then add them. Until then, one at a time, roll out each ball of dough into a rectangle as long as you want the baguettes to be. Once you have your rectangle, roll it up into a log jellyroll style or like you would cinnamon rolls, pinching the seams together. Place the log seam side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Repeat with the second ball of dough. Cover and let your baguettes rise for about another hour.

Once your baguettes have risen, you can make decorative slashes in them. You need a sharp knife to do this so you don't tear at the dough. Place them in a 350 degree oven and bake for 20 -25 min. If your want a crust to form on the baguettes, use a spray bottle and spray the baguettes while they are in the oven a couple of times.

This bread is delicious!
I recently used this recipe to make garlicky cheese sticks which I will post when I make them again. They were fabulous as well.