My carb-loving, bread eating, butter slathering family.

Some day I'll stop searching for bread recipes - maybe someday is today - maybe. This French bread recipe? Is amazing. No really. I should stop here because it's great.
We were having Andy's folks over for dinner and I didn't get rolls or bread. Everyone but me is carb-loving, bread eating, butter slathering folk. I can be that person too, it's just not something I often think about. BUT... this bread, it's a game-changer.
This bread has three rises, but honestly, it's not that difficult to make. I stirred it with a spatula to get it together, so I didn't even use the mixer. It turned out so well that I was asked to make it again for Christmas dinner. That seems like it was a winner all the way around. So... make this bread, even if you don't have a fancy pan... but if you have a wish list - add the pan - it's awkward to store but makes great bread!

French Bread
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 Tablespoon salt
4 to 5 cups flour
1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with the sugar. Wait 5-10 minutes.
2. Add oil, and salt. Mix well. Add flour one cup at a time, kneading well in between. Knead until smooth and elastic but don’t add too much flour so the dough becomes dry.
3. Cover the dough with a dish towel and let rise until doubled in size, about one hour.
4. Punch dough down and cover to rise again for 30 minutes.
5. Remove dough from bowl and put onto countertop lightly dusted with flour. Separate dough in half and gently roll each half into a long skinny loaf. Lay carefully onto a french bread loaf pan, or onto a cookie sheet dusted with cornmeal. With a sharp knife, cut 3-4 diagonal skits into the top of each dough loaf.
6. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise a 3rd time, for 25 minutes. Then lightly brush with a mixture of egg white and 1 teaspoon water.
7. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.