Baguette

Ingredient List

1 1/2 C Warm Water

1 1/2 TB. Yeast

2 Tsp. Sugar

3 1/4 C Flour

1 Tsp Salt

I bought a beautiful goat cheese yesterday that was coated in a strawberry/blueberry jam. It looked so amazing and I couldn’t wait to get home and try it out. But what do I put it on? I didn’t want to waste it by putting it on a cracker. So I decided to make some baguette’s to toast up and spread with some yummy goat cheese. This is how I made the baguette.

I first start with 1 1/2 Cups of Warm Water. You don’t want it hot…just a little warmer than luke warm. Then take 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Yeast and stir it into the water and then feed the yeast with 2 Teaspoons of Sugar. Give it a gentle stir and set aside for about 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl mix 3 1/4 Cups of Flour and 1 Teaspoon of salt. I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer with the dough hook to do the mixing for me.

Once the yeast mixture is frothy and foamy, you can add it to your dry ingredients.

With the dough hook attachment, start kneading the dough. Knead for about 5 minutes.

After the dough has been kneaded, separate into 3 pieces. Then roll one piece at a time of the dough into a rectangle and then roll the dough up into a long log type shape of dough. place this loaf onto a lightly greased baking sheet or a silicon baking mat. Repeat with all the pieces of dough and allow the loafs to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Once the bread has risen, take a knife and cut a small line in the middle of the dough. It doesn’t have to be deep.

Now take a metal baking pan and place 2 cups of ice water in the pan. When your oven has reached 450 degrees place the bread on the top shelf of the oven and place this pan with the water in it on the second shelf. This allows humidity to get into the oven and cause a nice crust on the bread. At 7 1/2 minutes, lightly brush butter or olive oil on the bread and bake for another 7 1/2 minutes or until the bread is fully cooked. It took my oven15 minutes total.

When the bread comes out of the oven, it will be golden and wonderful. I allow my bread to cool on the baking pan.

Bread is so easy to make. I wish more people would attempt to make their own breads.