"Healthier" French Bread (No Kneading Required!)

Serves: 24 Slices

Prep Time: 90 Minutes

Cook Time: 20-25 Minutes

This is a no-knead french bread that I bumped up the "health" factor by substituting a little whole wheat flour in place of the refined white stuff.


What You Need:
 1/2 C warm water
2 packages dry active yeast (4 1/2 t from a jar)
2 C VERY hot water
1/3 C oil
3 T sugar
1 T salt
4 C all-purpose flour
2 C whole wheat flour

What It Takes:
Combine the warm water with the yeast and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the hot water, oil, sugar, salt, wheat flour and 1 C all purpose flour. Stir with a wooden spoon.
Add yeast mixture and stir.
Add the rest of the flour and stir. Leave spoon in dough and let rest 10 minutes.
Stir dough and let rest for 10 minutes.
Repeat the stir/rest process for a total of five times.
Divide dough in half.
Turn out half the dough on a lightly floured surface. Press into a rectangle and then roll toward you like you are making cinnamon rolls. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Repeat with other half.
Cover with kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm, draft free place for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees,
Make three slits in the top of each of the loaves and bake for 20-25 minutes.