French Bread

I love French bread for so many uses, from garlic bread to French bread pizzas. It's so cheap to make at home, that I figured I would try my hand at it. It came out so well! I would definitely make this again.

Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
1 tablespoon cornmeal

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups warm water, yeast, and sugar.
2. Add salt and 2 cups flour. Mix until well combined.
3. Add 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix using a wooden spoon. Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.
4. Sprinkle remaining ½-1 cup flour onto smooth surface. Transfer dough to surface and knead in enough flour to make a stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. Knead for about 8 to 10 minutes total. 
5. Shape into a ball. Place dough in a greased bowl, and turn over once. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled.
6. Punch dough down, and divide in half. Transfer to a lightly floured surface. Cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. 
7. Roll each half into large rectangle. Roll up, starting from a long side. Moisten edge with water and seal. Taper ends.
8. Grease a large baking sheet. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Place loaves, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Alternatively, you can place your loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Cover with a damp cloth. Let rise until nearly doubled, 35 to 40 minutes.
10. With a very sharp knife, make 4 or 5 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep across top of each loaf. 
11. Bake in a preheated 425 degrees F oven for 25-35 minutes with baking dish of water on extra rack to keep oven humid. Cooking time may vary, so check bread often.
12. If necessary, cover loosely with foil to prevent over browning. Remove from baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack.

Modified from recipe at Allrecipes.com (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/french-bread/detail.aspx).