Nothing beats the smell of homemade, freshly baked bread! Enjoy a slice of a French Baguette, served warm with butter! Recipe makes 2 loaves.
Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Slowly add in the yeast/water mixture. Mix this together, then knead (on a lightly floured work surface) for approximately 5 minutes, until the dough becomes a smooth ball. (You can also use a stand mixer with the dough hook for this step). Remove dough from bowl. Divide into 2 equal halves.
Place the baguettes on a lightly greased baking sheet, with seam side down. Cover with a dish towel; let rise for 30 minutes. When dough is near the end of the "rising" time, preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Pour about 3/4 cup of water onto a separate cookie sheet (with edges, of course!). Place water-filled cookie sheet on the BOTTOM rack of oven (this will generate steam while baguette bakes).
Using a very sharp knife (a serrated knife blade works great!), gently make a slash lengthwise down the middle of each baguette. Bake baguettes at 450 degrees for 15 minutes on MIDDLE rack (above water). Halfway through baking time, brush tops of baguettes with melted butter. Bread will be golden brown when done. Remove baguettes to a wire rack. When slightly cooled, grab some butter, cut a big slice... and go for it! Enjoy!
Recipe makes 2 loaves. Caloric calculation was made based on 10 slices per loaf.
French Baguette https://www.thegratefulgirlcooks.com/french-baguette/