Really Easy, Really Good French Bread

Really Easy, Really Good French Bread

Ingredients:
Active dry yeast
Water
Sugar
Salt
Olive oil
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.
3. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour to the mixture in the large bowl/mixer and mix well.
4. Stir in yeast mixture.
5. Add 1 1 1/2 cups more flour and mix until well blended.
6. (At this point your dough will still be quite sticky).
7. Leave in bowl and let rise for 1 hour, mixing a few strokes a couple of times during the hour. Divide dough into 2 (or 3 if you want smaller loaves) pieces.
8. Roll out each piece on a floured surface into the length desired then roll up length wise like a jelly roll. Put on a greased cookie sheet, sealed side down, and tuck the ends under.
9. Slash the top diagonally across the top every couple of inches with a sharp knife.
10. Brush with egg white.
11. Preheat oven to 400°F
12. Let loaves rise 30 more minutes.
13. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.