Easy French Bread ?: I like to take it easy!!!

 Actually, I can't call this one traditional French bread because it's not ^^. But what you will do if you want to have a rustic bread, just bake it by yourself!!! This bread is very easy to make and when I need French bread, I bake this one instead. It doesn't require a lot of preparation, no need for sponge, or anything else, just an instant yeast that's all. 

 I use this recipe for almost 8 years by now ^^, and still love it, well, and this time it's a request from someone who told me that her husband doesn't like a bread with butter (most of my bread recipes are soft bread with a lot of butter). She try to make French bread but the result was disappointed. I told her that I have a recipe that can use instead of French bread and I will show her.
Anyway, I'm late, I told her that I will post this recipe for her last week but due to so many things in life, I just can't find enough time to make this bread. So, sorry for being late ^^, I try my best to keep my promise.
For this bread, I just have to tell you that it's easy easy an d easy, haha. I got this recipe from the book ...................... this book is very old (about 10 years by now).
The difference of this bread and the traditional one is this one contains oil. And this small amount is enough to make our life easier ^^, the bread is not rock hard but soft and chewy, and turn into a crunchy one after toasting. I use it when I want to make a garlic bread. It's easy to make too, just mix garlic, salt and butter together and spread over the sliced breads, and bake in a preheated 180°C oven for 15-20 minutes, and you get a delicious side dish ^^.
You can shape it into desired shape, and it's fun to do it. For the baking instruction, I suggest you to pour the boiling water into the pan to make stream, but if you don't want to do it, just bake the bread as usual, but the crust will be a bit thicker.
I think that you will love this recipe too, and hope that you will keep it for a long time like me.

Easy French Bread

Make 2 (33 cm long breads)

300g ............................... Bread flour
1tsp ................................. Honey
1½tsp ............................. Instant yeast
1tbsp ............................... Olive oil
200ml ............................. Water
1½tsp ............................. Coarse sea salt
.......................................... Yellow cornmeal for sprinkle over the pan
2cup ................................ Boiling water for baking

 Mix olive oil, honey and water together, put flour, instant yeast and salt in the bowl, whisk to combine. Use large spoon (or pastry scraper) to mix everything together, and knead briefly to bring all the ingredients together.Take the dough out of the bowl and knead if the dough is a bit dry sprinkle with 1-2 tbsp water, you will see the dough will be elastic. (See how to knead here).

 Put the dough into a light oiled bowl. Let the dough rise in a warm place until double in size (can be 1 hour or 1 hour and a half check often depend on the temperature).

Place a baking paper or silicone baking mat over a sheet pan, or use a French bread pan (I use this one), sprinkle with the yellow cornmeal. 
 Divide  the dough into 2 pieces.
Roll into balls and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
Press the ball lightly and shape into a long oval, do the same with another ball.

 Use the side of your hand press the center of the dough, and roll again (do it 2-3 times until you get a desired length )
Place the shaped dough over a prepared pan.
Let the dough rise until almost double in size, about 30 minutes.


Preheat the oven  220°C and place a roasting pan in the lowest shelf of the oven.

With a very sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep across top of each loaf. Put the bread into the oven and pour the boiling water into the roasting pan, bake for 10 minutes. 
Reduce the heat to 200°C bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until bread golden.
 Remove from baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack.

Easy French Bread?: I like to take it easy!!!