Bread Wreaths

(or in my case bread flowers)

Saw this on the internet. Had to try it.

I went with the French bread recipe that came with my KitchenAid stand mixer manual. then instead of making baguettes, form the dough into rings and and make angled cuts along the outside edge to shape it into a wreath, or a daisy if you prefer.

French Bread:

2 pkgs active dry yeast

2 1/2 cups warm water

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp butter or marg. melted

7 cups all purpose flour.

1 egg white.

1 tbsp cold water.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl. Add salt, butter, and flour. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to speed 2 and mix about 1 min, or until well blended. Knead on speed 2 about 2 min longer. Dough will be sticky.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about an hour or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough and divide in half. shape into loaves or “wreaths”. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover. Let rise in warm place again for about an hour.

Bake at 450F for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Beat egg white and water together with a fork. Brush over bread. Return to oven and bake for 5 more minutes. Cool on wire racks.