Quick and Easy French Bread

I have never been a good bread baker, although I have always been a great lover of bread. My ex husband made great bread. He used to make the kitchen table dance across the kitchen floor when he was kneading it and the results were fabulous.

My mother made great bread. I can remember coming home from school and smelling it baking from outside the house. I knew we were in for a real treat even before I went inside! Does anything on earth taste as good as a slice of fresh bread, still warm from the oven, spread with cold butter??? I think not!

What if I told you that you could bake a loaf of French Bread in less than an hour with only 5 ingredients, including the salt? Would you believe me?

I have to say I was pretty sceptical myself. I discovered this recipe on My Mundane and Miraculous Life for an easy peasy French Bread, that made this claim and today I aimed to see if it could actually be done. I had my doubts.

I make pretty good door stops, but bread . . . meh. French Bread? Uh-huh . . . yeh sure.

I have to say I was happily proven wrong . . . this recipe produced a delicious loaf of bread in less than an hour. Seriously. And I can't find anything wrong with it.

It has a lovely dark crust . . . and a beautifully light texture. It might not be quite as chewy as an actual loaf of French bread but why quibble . . .

And it was done in less than an hour. Seriously! It was! And I didn't mess it up either.

I didn't put quite as much salt into it as the recipe called for. I only added about 1/2 tsp, if that. We are trying to cut back on our salt in this house.

It does use rather a lot of yeast, 1 TBS, but then again that was another secret to my ex husband's bread also. He always used more yeast than the recipe asked for.

I just used normal yeast. Not quick yeast or bread machine yeast. I am tempted to try it again one day with quick yeast and see what the results are.

Todd was really pleased that I had made it because, one . . . it tasted so good and two . . . he forgot to pick up a loaf of bread while he was out like I had asked him to.

We both enjoyed a slice, warm from the oven and spread with some cold butter . . . and I confess . . . sweet strawberry jam. I used Bonne Maman Intense, which uses less sugar than regular jams.

Oh boy but this was some good. So good that I know what I am going to have for my supper tonight . . . . yep, more bread and jam!

Quick and Easy French Bread

Yield: 1 loaf

Author: Marie Rayner

Quick, easy and incredibly tasty. If I can make this anyone can!

ingredients:

360ml warm water (1 1/2 cups)
1 TBS honey
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 TBS dry yeast
350g to 450g of strong bread flour (3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups)

instructions:

How to cook Quick and Easy French Bread

Place the water, honey and yeast in a bowl. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes until it turns frothy and bubbles.
Stir it down then add half the flour and the salt. Stir together well, and then start adding the remaining flour, kneading it in until you have a dough that is not sticky and smooth.
Shape into a loaf and place onto a baking paper lined baking sheet. Cover with a towel and leave in a warm place to rise for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/gas mark 6.
Cut slashes in top of the loaf and then bake it in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.