By the way, you should totally take an extra 5 minutes and make this Restaurant-Style Olive Oil and Balsamic Bread Dip. HEAVENLY! If you make any of my recipes, be sure to share them on Instagram using the hashtag #TheFoodCharlatan so I can see it! I love that. I took this photo over a year ago. You would think I would learn (because I smack my head all the time) but usually when I’m cooking I’m in a hurry. My brain subconsciously thinks to itself, “you don’t have time to shut that drawer right now. You gotta get this cumin in the taco meat STAT.” Or whatever it is I need to do next. It’s gotten to the point that whenever I bend over in my kitchen to put something away, I try to remember to come up slowly and check around for rogue cupboards. We got a new fridge a few months ago and it starts beeping at me when I leave it open. This happens approximately 12,000 times a day. After he counted the open cupboards, Eric probably turned around and started counting children. 1…2…3…4…5…6…7. I have 7 children under the age of 7 in my house right now. (Ages 6, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1, and 3 months. I think.) My best friend and her husband are on a trip to Sweden (!!) and I volunteered to take her 4 kids for a week. No one is dead yet, thank you very much. Pray for me, my friends. Pray no one dies, and that if they do, that it wasn’t by my hand. “How is this possible? you ask yourself, twirling your imaginary little French mustache. “How can it only take one hour?” Well mon ami, we are going to use the power of yeast to our advantage. Using a little more than usual helps this French bread rise super fast so we can pop it in a hot oven and get to shoving it in our faces faster than you can say “Bonjour!” (No, my knowledge of French does not extend beyond the opening scene of Disney’s animated Beauty and Beast and I am FINE with that). Before you know it you’ll be digging into the crusty-on-the-outside, soft and fluffy on the inside French loaf of your wildest dreams. This French bread recipe has got the most gorgeous crust, and yes, part of that is because of the baguette pan that I used. (It’s not the one I linked too, that’s just a similar one.) Eric’s grandma (Nana) gifted me her old baguette pan and I get excited every time I use it. I love the crispy crust it makes all over the bottom. But you can totally shape the loaf on a regular old baking sheet, no fancy pans required. It will still be delicious bread in the end. Soft and tender in the middle, crispy crust on the outside. Yes please! Pass the butter.
Sugar Active dry yeast Butter Flour Egg white (optional)
Slice your French bread and lay out the slices on a baking sheet. Spread each one with softened butter, then sprinkle them with garlic salt. Put them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes on high, and voila! Garlic toasts to go with your spaghetti. Take uneaten slices of French bread (lucky you, that never happens at my house) and make French toast with them. Cube leftover bread and use it in this Strawberry Panzanella Salad. Make it into French Bread Pizza (3 Ways). Get super fancy and up your breakfast game with this Grilled Cheese Eggs Benedict. Love Jalapeno poppers? If you’ve never tried these Jalapeno Popper Grilled Sandwiches you are in for a treat (and french bread is great in these).
If you’re not planning on taking the loaf down like a starving peasant (guilty), here are some of my favorite meals to serve French bread with. Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup (30 Minutes) « is there anything better than dipping warm bread in warm cheese sauce? And there’s broccoli, so it’s HEALTHY. Best Beef Bourguignon Recipe « while we’re pretending to be in Paris, let’s go full French and make this. Not nearly as easy but the payoff is soooo worth it. Zuppa Toscana Recipe « this creamy, slightly spicy broth is just begging for you to dip some warm crusty bread in it. Best Chicken Alfredo Recipe « creamy Alfredo sauce + French bread = true love. 30 Minute Pesto Penne with Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes « one of those perfectly simple, super flavorful meals that everyone loves.
Can you freeze French Bread?
Yes! French bread can be frozen as an entire loaf or in slices. If you freeze the entire loaf you should first wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then in tin foil. If you slice it first, you can simply pop them into a ziplock bag and pull it out anytime. Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram Big Fat Crescent Rolls « so beautiful (and really not that hard). I’ll show you how! One Hour Yeast Rolls (Reesy Rolls) « this was a classic for Eric growing up. You can tell by this photo I posted these a long time ago! Aunt Shirley’s Famous Dinner Rolls « these are my family’s must-have rolls for every occasion. Garlic and Rosemary Skillet Bread « Alllll the garlic on top, baked in a cast iron skillet. So good. Buttery Sweet Potato Rolls « not just for Thanksgiving! Classic Crusty Herbed Dinner Loaf from Sugar Dish Me 5 Seed Dinner Rolls from Sprinkles and Sprouts Savory Onion Cheese Rolls from Mindee’s Cooking Obsession This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
