Marianne Baguette - Traditional Rustic French Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried yeast
• 500 g organic strong bread flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons natural sea salt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 25 g organic butter
• 350 ml milk

Recipe

• 1 put the ingredients into the bread machine. set to the dough programme and start. grease a large baking tray & pre-heat oven to 220c/400°f.
• 2 once the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured surface and punch it down to deflate it. shape dough into two long "baguette" shaped loaves and place on the baking sheet. cover loosely with lightly oiled cling-film and leave to rise for about 30 minutes until doubled in size.
• 3 meanwhile, place an oven proof bowl containing water on the bottom of the oven to heat up. (about 250mls).
• 4 sprinkle top of dough with flour, then using a sharp knife cut 5 diagonal small slits across the tops of the baguettes.
• 5 bake for 15 minutes then reduce temperature to 190c/375f and bake for a further 10 - 15 minutes. (if they start browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil on top.).
• 6 transfer to wire rack to cool.
• 7 eat immediately.