One of my newfound Sunday rituals is baking homemade bread for the week. There's something really empowering about the process of making food with your own hands, not to mention you know exactly what ingredients are used. I've also learned that making food from scratch is an easy way to reduce packaging waste since most cooking ingredients last a while and often come in glass or paper packaging, rather than plastic.

I would consider myself quite the novice baker, so I was delighted when I discovered this incredibly simple and quick French bread recipe. It calls for only five ingredients, most of which are pantry staples, and the only cookware you need is a mixing bowl, a large spoon, and a baking sheet. 

This homemade bread recipe takes just under an hour from start to finish, and requires surprisingly little effort, so it's the perfect baking activity for a Sunday afternoon or evening spent relaxing at home.

TOTAL TIME

45-55 mins

PREP TIME

25-30 mins

COOK TIME

20-25 mins

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5 cups warm water

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1.5 teaspoons salt

• 1 tablespoon Active Dry Yeast

• 3.5 – 4.5 cups flour

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine the water, honey, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl and let sit for 5-10 minutes. A layer of foam will begin to form at the top.

2. Add the flour to the mixture and stir until it has a dough-like consistency. Knead the dough with your hands until well-combined, adding flour until the dough no longer sticks to your fingers.

3. Shape the dough into a loaf and cover with a towel. Let sit for 20 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

4. Once the loaf has risen, cut a few slits in the top and bake for 15-20 minutes. Broil 2-5 minutes for a crispy, golden-brown finish.

5. Let cool for an hour or so, and then store in a bread box or linen bag (you can either buy one or make your own). Enjoy for up to five days.

Adapted from My Mundane & Miraculous Life