Homemade French Bread

I found myself with no bread in the house today so I whipped up this easy homemade rustic french bread to go with our pasta salad dinner. I seriously only spent about 10 minutes of hands on time and came out with this beautiful loaf.

Easy Homemade French Bread


1 1/2 cups water at around 105 degrees (warm to the touch tap water)
4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
cornmeal

Add first four ingredients to bread machine and set on the dough cycle. When cycle is over, sprinkle corn meal over the bottom of a baking sheet. Shape dough into a long loaf, set on cornmeal covered baking sheet and brush with the egg white and water that has been slightly beaten. Cover and let rise for 40 minutes or until doubled. Place three 1/4 inch deep diagonal slices along the top of the loaf. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, brush with more of the water and egg white mixture and bake another 15 minutes or until a nice rich golden brown.