This is an easy recipe that uses only a few ingredients and a little bit of technique.
Ingredients :
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup warm water 110° to 115°
1 package active dry yeast 2 ¼ teaspoons
¾ teaspoon salt
2 ¾ to 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg white
Directions :
Combine sugar and 1 cup warm water in a bowl. Stir in yeast and let stand 5 minutes.
Stir in salt and 2 cups of flour. Continue adding flour a bit at a time to form a stiff dough. Knead until about 5 minutes (or use a dough hook on a stand mixer per notes below).
Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise 1 hour or until doubled. Punch dough down and let rise 30 minutes more.
Roll dough into a 14"x10" square and roll up jelly roll style to create a 14"x2.5" loaf. Place on a parchment lined pan seam side down. Using a sharp knife, cut 3-4 diagonal slits into the loaf (about ¼" deep).
Cover with a damp towel and let rise 30-40 minutes or until doubled. Brush bread with egg white. Preheat oven to 425°F.
Place in the oven and bake 20-25 minutes or until browned. Cool on a baking rack.
