Kittencal's Soft White Baguette-style Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or 2 tablespoons margarine or 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 -4 cups flour
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• sesame seeds

Recipe

• 1 prepare one large cookie sheet lined with foil and sprayed with non-stick cooking spray or sprinkled with yellow cornmeal.
• 2 attach the kneader blade to a heavy-duty stand mixer.
• 3 in the stainless steel bowl, dump 3 cups flour (to start) 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon sugar.
• 4 melt the butter or crisco shortening in the microwave for about 22 seconds then dump into the bowl with the flour, sugar and salt.
• 5 in a small cup add in the yeast with 1 teaspoon sugar in 1-1/4 cups warm water; cover with small clean cloth, and proof the yeast for 8-10 minutes, stirring just once with a small spoon or whisk (if the yeast doesn't foam discard and start again).
• 6 after 10 minutes, add in the yeast/water mixture into the bowl and start kneading, adding in more flour as needed to create a soft semi-sticky dough (careful not to add in too much flour, as this will create a heavy bread!).
• 7 knead for 7-8 minutes, or until dough is the right texture and is smooth.
• 8 remove dough from the bowl, and let sit on a lightly floured surface covered with a clean tea towel for 10 minutes (this is important!).
• 9 after 10 minutes, knead very gently (dough will come together nicely).
• 10 form into a semi-round ball.
• 11 grease a large glass bowl (i just use the same stainless steel bowl that i made the dough in).
• 12 place the dough in the oiled bowl; cover with a clean tea towel and set in a warm place to rise aproximmately 1 hour.
• 13 punch down dough and remove to a floured surface.
• 14 at this point you may cut the dough in half to make two small long breads, or keep into one piece for one large loaf.
• 15 using hands shape into a rectangle (no need to use a rolling pin this dough will shape very easy).
• 16 roll up tightly then seal all edges.
• 17 cover the shaped loaf/s with a clean dry tea towel, and let rise for about 30-35 minutes in a warm place.
• 18 after rising set oven to 375 degrees f.
• 19 in a small cup whisk/mix together 1 egg white with 1 teaspoon cold water.
• 20 lightly brush the egg white mixture over the dough, then sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
• 21 bake for 25-33 minutes, or until bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
• 22 delicious!