Recipe, French Bread

Make a wonderful french bread "Pain de campagne", same as a boulangerie in France, with a bread making machine.

Many have dreamed of making french bread once they have bought a bread making machine and very often the best achieved is a roasted English loaf.

If you want to make a really good french bread it is very easy.

Use the proportions shown at the end and take your bread making machine to make the dough (and only to make the dough) using dough program and leave to rest for 6 to 12 hours as making bread needs time for the yeast to do its job. Make it overnight for example

Cooking has to be made in your oven.
Boulangerie ovens used to be heated with a log fire and the dough was placed in to cook when ovens were very hot.
Bread making machines start from cold which is exactly the opposite.

Preheat your oven at 260°c. (520°F - gas mk9) (if you have a program keeping moisture inside it is better , if not put a cup of hot water in and stop the fan if program allows as well).

Use a cake mould (non adhesive 10"x10", one inch high) and pour the dough very gently helping a little bit (it is sticky).

Collect all that has stayed stiking to make a pattern on top and cook for 35 minutes.

Do not eat it before an hour (it will be too hot and not as good).

Flour (organic is better) 450Grs (1 lb)
Water 340ml (about a third of a liter or 12 fl oz)
3 tea spoon salt
1 flat tea spoon dried yeast (not near the salt)
Cook between 250° to 260°C (520°F or gas mark 9) for 35 minutes..........

should you have any problem contact us at chal@wanadoo.fr and write BREAD in the title of your mail