This month's Daring BakersChallenge (my first!) was hosted by Mary at The Sour Dough (this link is where the recipe is at) and Sara at I Like to Cook .They chose a recipe from one of my most favorite people ever - Julia Child. Her 18 page-long recipe for Pain Francais (French Bread) seems daunting at first, but once you get going, it's not difficult at all, just time-consuming. All told I spent 8 hours making this bread! It is so very worth it, though. My own bread certainly didn't turn out bakery-pretty, but it was absolutely delicious!
Here's my bread making day in photos:
Dissolved yeast.
Everything together.
Dough formed.
The kneaded dough ready to rise.
Three batards shaped and risen.
My state-of-the-art unmolding board.
The finished-if-not-so-pretty bread.
26 comments:
On the contrary - I think your loaves look excellent! A lot of loaves in France look like this. It is very pretty.
Oh yum! Where did you get those bread pans though? They are too cool (& I've been looking for some).
You did a wonderful job on your bread! They look so rustic and yummy.
Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
L and Sheltie--TY so much! You're too kind.
Ranae--it's a towel ;o)
Looks delicious! Makes me want to fly off to France today!
Heather, not without me, you don't!!
They look fabulous, but how did they taste? :) If you'd like a less-time-consuming alternative to JC, as much as we all love her, try Richard Bertinet's "Dough" cookbook. Absolutely divine homemade French bread with far fewer steps.
Hi, again, Neen- I'll refer you right back to the top of the post!
"My own bread certainly didn't turn out bakery-pretty, but it was absolutely delicious!"
I make French bread very often, but the challenge here was the method that Julia Child put down.
Ben San! I think yours looked totally awesome! I left a comment but got booted right after-so I hope it's there!
I think your bread looks great! And I love your state of the art unmolding board!
Nicely done. Looks so yummy!
So, the latest recipe I want to try has you leave a starter for 12 hours before making the dough. Did you do this? I've only ever used a starter for sourdough.
Mary, thank you! Thanks for stopping by, too.
Cakes, I dunno! I've only ever used a starter and gone right on from there--this wasn't sourdough this time, though!
looks like the bread came out well for you Anne!:)
Beautiful loaves! Great job making the French Bread! Welcome to the Daring Bakers!
Mansi and Gretchen--thank you! I hope this is the start of a long and beautiful baking relationship :O)
They have such a rustic, old world look to them. I'm sure they were amazing. Now I have to run out and buy some (I am not good at baking at all). Congrats on the challenge!
I loved watching Julia as a youngen as well as her on the show with that other frenchie, Jock?
Any who, your bread does look pretty~ and tasty too. My teeth want to bite down on a piece so bad, I can hardly stand it~ :)
They may not be "bakery" pretty but from they sure look right and perfect tasting.
Thanks for baking with Sara and I this month!
hmmm... your state of the art unmolding board looks very similar to mine. ;-)
My mouth is watering, I love the smell of fresh bread.
Mirz-you cheater! LOL Buy extra for me, I don't have an extra 8 hours today!
K-I loved seeing Julia on TV, she was a real character and so much FUN!
Breadchick--thanks so much for stopping by!
Carrie-phew! I'm in good company, then!
Lizzy-it really was VERY good--worth the time and effort.
I think your loaves look great - good job!
i think you're too hard on yourself! they look great!
Looks pretty to me!
Looks like they tasted really good. Great job completing this challenge - I like the looks of the dough in the middle, looks supple and smooth!
I think your loaves turned out great, very rustic looking, just the way I like. :-)
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