Homemade Crusty French Bread (Baguette Style)
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast, 1½ cups warm water, 1 tablespoon olive oil. Instructions: In a large bowl mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy, add olive oil and salt then gradually add flour and mix until a soft dough forms, knead on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic, place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size about 1–1½ hours, punch down the dough and divide into 3 equal pieces, shape each piece into a long loaf, place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes, preheat oven to 220°C (430°F) and place an empty metal pan at the bottom of the oven, slash the tops of the loaves with a sharp knife, pour hot water into the empty pan to create steam and immediately bake the bread for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and crisp, remove from oven and cool on a rack before slicing.