French Bread

Recipe taken from https://abountifulkitchen.com/dianes-no-fail-french-bread/

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons dry yeast 
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 cups hot water
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon sea or Kosher salt
• 5 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
• 6 cups All Purpose flour
• 1 egg *optional beaten- for glazing bread

Instructions:

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
2. In a separate large bowl combine hot water, sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups of the flour. Stir well.
3. Add the yeast mixture to the hot water-flour mixture. Mix together with large wooden spoon or paddle attachment.
4. Add the remaining 3 cups of flour a cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. After all of the flour is added and mixed in, let sit in bowl for 10 minutes.

6. When the dough has risen, stir down with a large spoon. If making in a stand mixer, turn the machine on low for a few seconds until the dough is deflated, and push dough to bottom part of bowl with a spatula. 

7. Repeat 5 times, every ten minutes, for a total of 60 minutes of rising and then punching (or pushing) down. (if you forget this step, it's not the end of the world)

8. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half of dough in a 9×12 rectangle on a floured surface.
9. Roll the dough up like a jelly roll (long way). Place the dough on a greased baking pan (jelly roll pan), with the seam side down. Both loaves fit on one pan.

10. Score the bread across the top 3 or 4 times, and brush with beaten egg (if using).

11. Let rise for 20-30 minutes in warm place.

12. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes in lower half of oven, until golden brown. Or you may bake at 350-375 convection for 18-20 minutes until golden.