Wholewheat French Bread Recipe

While cleaning my pantry, I found a bag of wholewheat flour that is about ready to be tossed in the trash bin. Not willing to waste it, I quickly searched for an easy bread recipe. I found this simple FRENCH BREAD recipe using unbleached flour and after tweaking the ingredients a little bit, this is what I ended up with.

WHOLEWHEAT FRENCH BREAD

Ingredients:

1/4 cup warm water
1 cup tap water
1 package dry yeast active
1 tsp salt
a pinch of sugar
3 1/2 cups wholewheat flour
1 tbs quick oats
1 beaten egg white

1. Mix dry yeast with warm water. Throw in a pinch of sugar and let sit until yeast is activated (foamy).
2. Pour mixture on electric mixer, adding tap water and salt.
3. Add flour a little at a time and knead for about 10 minutes.
4. Remove dough (it should be soft and sticky) and place on an oiled bowl and cover with oiled plastic wrap. Let sit for about an hour or until doubled in size.



5. After an hour, punch dough and then let rise for another 40 minutes.
6. After second rising, divide dough into two. Using floured rolling pin, flatten out dough into a rectangle.
7. Roll (as if making a jelly roll) from long end and pinch seam. Place in french bread pan and let rise for another hour.
8. Preheat oven to 425 F. Place a small bowl of warm water inside the oven.
9. After final rising, brush top of bread with egg white wash. Sprinkle oats on top and then bake the bread for 30 minutes.

Cool in a wire rack before serving.





And here is Matt's dinner today:

• wholewheat french bread (homemade)
  
• camembert and salad.
  

Of course with a glass (or bottle?) of red wine!