Easy Sourdough French Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 4 -5 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 (4 1/2 teaspoon) packages instant yeast
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 in large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour and remaining dry ingredients.
• 2 add water, sour cream and vinegar and beat well.
• 3 stir in additional 2-2 1/2 cups flour until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.
• 4 on floured surface, knead in 1/2-1 cup additional flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• 5 place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top.
• 6 cover and let rise for 25-35 minutes in a warm place.
• 7 grease large cookie sheet.
• 8 punch down dough and let it rest on counter, covered with an inverted bowl, for 15 minutes.
• 9 divide dough in half.
• 10 roll each half to a 14" x 8" rectangle.
• 11 starting with long side, roll up and pinch edges firmly to seal.
• 12 taper ends a little, to look like typical french bread.
• 13 place seam side down on prepared cookie sheet.
• 14 cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 15 minutes.
• 15 meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees.
• 16 bake bread for 25 minutes.
• 17 in a small bowl, beat egg and water.
• 18 brush over partially baked bread.
• 19 return to oven and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped.
• 20 immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool.