Baguette making

My first loaves baking in the oven!

One of my New Year's Resolution was to learn to make a baguette. I realize that my New Year's resolution should have been to decrease the amount of carbs consumed, but that was not so. I love french bread, but it pains me to pay upwards of $3 dollars for a baguette and I hate that they don't keep well. Furthermore, going to the store every time I need (or want) one isn't really realistic. Hence, my desire to learn to make them myself!

Andy received a bread machine for Christmas last year so I set out to find a French Bread recipe that would allow me to let the bread machine to do some of the work. My first attempt was a success, however I must admit this isn't for the faint at heart: I spent an entire afternoon checking, flouring and kneading. Here's the recipe I followed from All Recipes. Unfortunately, the bread machine only did the initial mixing and rising, and the recipe only netted two modest-sized loaves. However, they did have the unbeatable combination of a crusty exterior with a soft spongy interior. Yum!