Really Easy, Really Good French Bread

A dear friend gave me this recipe, swearing that it is too easy to mess up- and she was right! It was delicous, better than anything fresh from the bakery!

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 ounce dry active yeast (1 packet)
• 1⁄4 cup warm water
• 1⁄4 teaspoon sugar
• 1  cup hot water
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 tablespoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup  oil
• 2 1⁄2-3  cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast, warm water, and sugar in a small bowl.
2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine hot water, granulated sugar, salt, and oil. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour to the mixture in the large bowl/mixer and mix well. Stir in yeast mixture.
3. Add 1 – 1 1/2 cups more flour and mix until well blended. (At this point your dough will still be quite sticky). Leave in bowl and let rise for 1 hour, mixing a few strokes a couple of times during the hour.
4. Divide dough into 2 (or 3 if you want smaller loaves) pieces. Roll out each piece on a floured surface into the length desired then roll up length wise like a jelly roll.
5. Put on a greased cookie sheet, sealed side down, and tuck the ends under. Slash the top diagonally across the top every couple of inches with a sharp knife. Brush with egg white. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Let loaves rise 30 more minutes.
6. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.