French Countryside Bread (Bread Machine - Abm)

Add all ingredients to your bread machine as your directions instruct.

Mine go like this:

Add liquid ingredients to bread pan.

Add all dry ingredients, except yeast, to bread pan.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and carefully add the yeast into the well.

Select the "French" setting on your machine.

Select crust color, if applicable.

Press start!

OVEN METHOD:

To make loaves in the oven, use the "Dough" cycle on your machine.

When cycle is complete, punch dough down and divide into 2 equal parts.

On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a rectangle, about 10 x 15.

Starting at the long side, roll each rectangle, jelly roll style, into a tight, long loaf. Seal seams and ends by pinching dough together.

Place loaves seam sides down on a large, ungreased baking sheet. You may sprinkle some cornmeal or flour on the pan under where you'll be placing the loaves.

Cover loaves with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes, until almost double in size.

Preheat oven to 375*. Place a pan of hot water on the bottom rack of your oven. This will create steam inside the oven while the bread is baking to give you an authentic crust.

Using a very sharp knife, carefully make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes in each loaf, cutting about 1/2 inch down into dough.

If you choose, at this time you can carefully brush on an egg white glaze (one egg white beaten with 1 tbl. of water) and sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion or garlic, etc., if desired.

Bake for 25-30 minutes (or until loaves sound hollow when tapped) on middle oven rack.

Cool on wire racks and serve warm.