French Bread
A classic well-liked bread that can be served for dinner, made into sandwiches, or toasted for breakfast.

Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) water, warm
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt, optional
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons (15 g) whole grain cornmeal
- 1 large egg white
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)To proof the yeast, combine 1/2 cup (120 ml) warm water with the yeast. Stir slowly to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Place flour and salt, optional into the Vitamix container and secure lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed and slowly increase speed to Variable 6. Blend until a hole forms in the center of the flour mixture, about 5 seconds.
- Select Variable 3. Start the blender and remove the lid plug. Slowly add yeast mixture and remaining 1/2 cup warm water, a little at a time, just until incorporated, through the lid plug opening. Stop machine and replace lid plug.
- Select Variable 10. Pulse two times. Stop machine and remove lid. Use a wet nylon spatula to scrape the sides of the container, pulling the dough away from the container sides and into the center of the mixture. Replace lid.
- Select Variable 10. Pulse five times. Add additional water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, only if dough seems exceptionally dry. Repeat process five times, scraping the sides of the container until the dough binds together into a soft, elastic mixture.
- Grease a medium-size mixing bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle the cornmeal on a baking sheet. Slowly invert the container over the prepared bowl, using a wet spatula to remove any remaining dough. Turn dough to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until almost triple in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Lightly punch down dough and place on a floured work surface, adding additional flour as needed to make workable but still soft dough. Roll into a 12-inch x 6-inch (30 cm x 15 cm) rectangle with a floured rolling pin. Roll from the long end down, pinching the seams together and using water to seal.
- Place dough, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Brush top of loaf with egg mixture and make three to four diagonal slits about ¼ inch deep on the top of the loaf using a sharp, serrated knife.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until bread is well browned and reaches an internal temperature of 190°F (88°C) when tested with an instant read thermometer. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes, then carefully remove from the baking sheet and allow to cool completely before slicing.