Yummy French Bread

Yummy French Bread

Ingredients:
1 package Yeast (1 ½ Tablespoons)
2 ½ cups Hot Water, divided
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Tablespoon Salt
5 Tablespoons Oil
6 cups Flour, divided (1/4 cup more for rolling out)
1 Egg (optional)
Poppy or Sesame Seeds (optional)

Instructions:
Mix together yeast and ½ cup water and set aside for 10 minutes. In a plastic or wooden bowl mix remaining 2 cups water, sugar, salt, and oil until salt and sugar dissolve. Add 3 cups flour. Add yeast mixture.
Add 3 more cups of flour.
Stir with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Leave spoon in the batter. Set aside 10 minutes. Stir again, leaving spoon in batter. Repeat 2 more times (total of 4 mix, then wait 10 min). Divide dough into 2 parts. On a floured board (or counter), roll out each part dough to a flat rectangle. Then roll up to make a loaf and place on greased cookie sheet. Let loaves rise for 30 min. Brush loaves with egg and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds, if desired. Bake @ 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Let cool before cutting.

Don't use metal bowls or spoons--just wooden or plastic.

I have done both ways. I used my metal Kitchen Aid to make it do the work before and it seemed to turn out the same, but if you need to work out your arms or don't have a fabulous Kitchen Aid, you can easily do it by hand. After making this bread, I don’t know that I can spend a dollar or more on the French bread at the store.
Andy made this on Saturday (by hand, I didn't let him use the mixer) and it was delicious. He even won a bread contest!

This recipe came from Andy’s cousin, Sunny. THANKS!