Homemade French Bread and Nutty Whole Wheat Bread Recipes

French Bread

1/2 of a 1/4 ounce envelope active dry yeast

Wheat Bread

1 cup warm water (105 to 115 F)

Homemade French Bread and Nutty Whole Wheat Bread Recipes

3 cups sifted all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Nonstick cooking spray

2 tablespoons yellow or white cornmeal

In a small bowl, combine the yeast with 1/2 cup of the water. Let stand for about 5 minutes, then stir until the yeast dissolves. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour and salt. Beat in the the yeast aggregate and the remaining water and continue beating until the aggregate forms a ball, adding a miniature more flour or water as indispensable until you have a workable dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured face and knead until smooth and elastic about 10 minutes. Lightly coat a large bowl with the cooking spray, shape the dough into a ball, place in the bowl, and turn so that the dough is coated on all sides. Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and let the dough rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled in size about 1 hour. With your fist, punch down the dough. Cover again and let the dough rise a second time until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Punch the dough down again and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then roll and shape it into a cylinder about 1 foot long. Coat a large baking sheet with the cooking spray and sprinkle with the cornmeal. Place the dough on the baking sheet, cover with the dish towel and let it rise once more for 30 minutes. Toward the end of the rising period, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Fill a 13"x9"x2" baking pan with an inch of hot water and place it on the floor of the oven. Using a sharp knife, slash the dough 1/4 inch deep down the center, then brush with water. Place the bread in the town of the oven and using a spray bottle, spray the sides of the oven with water. Continue to spray every 5 minutes during the first 15 minutes of baking time. Bake for a total of 30 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

This bread is baked and steamed simultaneously to ensure a shiny, thin crisp crust.

Nutty Whole Wheat Bread

1/2 of a 1/4 ounce envelope active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm milk (105 to 115 F)

4 teaspoons honey

1 cup sifted all purpose flour

2 cups unsifted whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup warm water

Nonstick cooking spray

3 tablespoons chopped pecans

1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal

1 tablespoon milk

In a small bowl, combine the yeast, milk and honey. Let stand about 5 minutes or until bubbly, then stir until the yeast dissolves. In a large bowl, combine the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt and pepper. Add the olive oil, water, and the yeast mixture. Beat with a spoon until the dough forms a ball. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured face and knead until it is smooth and elastic about 8-10 minutes. Lightly coat a large bowl with the cooking spray. Shape the dough into a ball and place in the bowl. Turn the dough until it is coated on all sides. Cover with a dish cloth and let the dough rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled in size about 1 hour. While the dough rises, preheat the over to 325F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven about 8 minutes. When the dough has doubled in size punch it down and let it rest for 10 minutes. Knead in the the pecans until they are evenly distributed. Lightly coat the baking sheet with the cooking spray and sprinkle with the cornmeal. Shape the dough into a ball, place it on the baking sheet and cover with the dish towel. Let rise for a second time until approximately doubled in size about 40 minutes. Toward the end of the rising period, preheat the oven to 350F. Brush the top of the loaf with the tablespoon of milk. Using a sharp knife, slash a large X 1/4 inch deep over the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. This bread makes a superb morning meal toast.

Homemade French Bread and Nutty Whole Wheat Bread Recipes

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