French Country Bread

Ingredients

• 2.5 teaspoons active dry yeast , divided
• 3 cups warm water , divided
• 6 cups bread flour , divided
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

1. 1

   Dissolve ½ teaspoon active dry yeast in 1 cup warm water in a medium-sized nonmetal mixing bowl. Add 1 ½ cups bread flour; mix well. Cover bowl; let starter sit at room temperature, 8 hours to overnight.

2. 2

   Dissolve remaining 2 teaspoons active dry yeast in remaining 2 cups warm water in a large bowl. Add starter mixture, 3 cups bread flour, whole wheat flour, and salt; stir until well combined. Add remaining 1 ½ cups bread flour, ½ cup at a time, mixing well after each addition until dough has pulled together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

3. 3

   Place dough into a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

4. 4

   Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.

5. 5

   Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces and form into loaves; place into the prepared pans. Cover loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.

6. 6

   Bake in the preheated oven until tops are golden brown and bottom of loaves sound hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes.