Sourdough French Bread

~Nimz~'s Note:

There is nothing like fresh bread and this is my version of my all time favorite.

• Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins
• Prep Time: 3 hrs
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 loaves ...

• 177.44 ml warm water
• 11.09 ml active dry yeast
• 14.79 ml olive oil
• 4.92 ml salt
• 2.46 ml garlic powder
• 473.18 ml proofed sourdough starter
• 236.59 ml shredded parmesan cheese
• 946.36 ml unbleached all-purpose flour
• yellow cornmeal

Directions:

1. In a Kitchen Aide mixing bowl dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit for 5-8 minutes.
2. Add sourdough starter, olive oil, salt, garlic powder and cheese.
3. With the paddle of the mixer, mix until well combined.
4. Change to the dough hook.
5. Add 4 cups of flour and knead for 7-8 minutes. (Add additional flour as needed).
6. Coat a large bowl with olive oil.
7. Turn the dough into the bowl and turn to coat.
8. Cover and let sit until doubled in size (about an hour).
9. Turn dough out onto a floured surface.
10. Cut dough in half and roll out into an oval shape about 9X12.
11. Beginning at the bottom edge, roll up and pinch seam
12. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with cornmeal.
13. Place the loaves on the sheet, seam side down.
14. Make shallow slashes on top of the loaves with a sharp knif or razor blade.
15. Cover and let rise until about double (about 30-40 minutes).
16. Heat oven to 375.
17. Place bread in the oven and spray the sides of the oven and the bread with water.
18. Repeat this every 5 minutes for the first 15 minutes.
19. Continue baking for another 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
20. Remove and cool on wire racks.

Reviews

[breezermom]

Okay, I don't have a Kitchen Aide, but my friend does. So I threw dinner in the crockpot so I could work on this as soon as I got off work. Ran to her house and used her mixer, cleaned up after myself, and went home to let my dough rise. (I did leave her half the dough so she could make her own loaf!) I did not use as much cheese as called for....didn't really want a cheesy bread. This bread is delicious....well worth the effort to make your own bread! Made for Best of 2011 Tag game on the recommendation of VeggieCook98.

[VeggieCook98]

This was amazing bread. :) I used about half the cheese, and it still tasted a bit like cheese bread, but that's not a bad thing. :D I will make this again for sure. :)

[free-free]

Thanks ~Nimz~, This was my first sourdough tagged playing "I Recommend" based on Jess4Freedoms review (I also took her advice and used Bergy's Sourdough Bread Starter- thanks Jess and Bergy too)-- this recipe worked beautifully for me ...my husband LOVED it...we enjoyed a warm loaf with a dinner of chili and nut butter then I made sammies with the some of the extra and froze the rest to take out a couple of piece at a time . Will be doing this one regularly as I decided to not buy bread anymore (now that i am so spoiled {{lol}} ) :)...thanks again!!!