Patti Redd's Authentic French Bread

You will need French Pans for this one.

FORMULA:
4 1/2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons salt
3 teaspoons sugar
8-12 cups flour
3 teaspoons yeast
olive oil

PROCESS:
Mix 4 cups hot water, salt, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 4 cups flour together well in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl mix 1/2 cup hot water, 3 heaping teaspoons yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar - let sit for about 5 minutes while yeast mixture gets foamy. Fold yeast mixture into flour mixture.
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Add 3 cups flour and stir well. Let sit for 10 minutes.
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Add 2 1/2 cups flour (or less) until the dough is not sticky.
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Form ball, put generous amount of oil over dough, spread with hands. Cover bowl with lid or clear wrap. Wait until dough doubles in size. Put dough out on floured counter. Make into 4 equal mounds (or 6 if you are using the small pans). Let rest for 15 minutes.
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Form into bread loaves and put in oiled pans. Put a little oin on hands and spread on the top of loaves. Make diagonal slices with knife. Let it rise until almost double in size.
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Bake in oven for approximately 45 minutes at 370 degrees.