Easy French Bread & Garlic Butter

I have got to tell you. I have been making this bread for like FOREVER. It is SO easy. It also tastes fabulous. In fact, for the young women at church who are working on Personal Progress... Whenever they do a project which (they have to invest at least 10 hours working on something that goes with a value they are working on.) I let them pick something like a bag of their favorite candy, or a box of my cake delights or a bag of mints or a multi pack of gum... I had a young women pick French Bread. My thought was "I know how to make that, I can do that right before church and then take it with me to them." So that has become quite an incentive to a few of them. I am amazed at the youth in our church. They are such wonderful young women and I am so grateful for their example to their friends and those around them. I love working with them.
My kids love Garlic Bread and so a number of years ago a friend of mine (Amy Brown) had made some for a church activity. I loved it and got the recipe from her. I make it all the time and I know that there are a lot of people who like it so I will include the recipe as well. :)

EASY FRENCH BREAD

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups warm water (115 degrees F.)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 pkgs. active dry yeast (2 tablespoons)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons soft shortening or vegetable oil
• 6 cups all-purpose flour, stirred and measured
• 1 beaten egg with 1 tablespoon water (optional)
• Sesame or poppy seeds (optional)

Directions

1. In large mixing bowl combine warm water and sugar.
2. Sprinkle yeast over top; allow to soften.
3. Add salt, shortening, and 3 cups flour; beat well with heavy spoon.
4. Add enough remaining flour so that dough pulls away from sides of bowl.
5. Turn dough out onto floured board; knead two or three times to coat dough with flour so that dough can be handled.
6. Divide dough into two parts.
7. Roll each portion of sough into rectangle 9x12 inches.
8. Roll dough up, starting from long side; pinch edge of loaf to seal. Arrange seam side down on large baking sheet that’s been greased or sprinkled with cornmeal, allowing room for both loaves.
9. Repeat with second portion of dough.
10. Cover lightly; allow to rise 30 minutes.
11. With very sharp knife, cut three gashes at an angle in top of each loaf; brush entire surface with egg wash. If desired, sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds.
12. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes or until brown. Cool on racks. Makes 2 loaves

Garlic Butter

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 3-4 garlic cloves

Directions

1. Run the cloves of garlic through a garlic press into a small mixing bowl.
2. Mix the butter and Mayonnaise in with the pressed garlic.
3. Spread the garlic butter onto slices of french bread.
4. Broil until bubbly and edges brown.