Bread Machine Sesame French Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 ounces warm water (14 tbs.)
1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine, softened
2 3/4 - 3 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons yeast
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (toast lightly before adding if desired for a slightly more intense flavor, but it's good either way)

Preparation

Place all the ingredients into the bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.
Bake using french bread cycle if your machine has it.
If not, use the dark crust white cycle.
Start with 2 3/4 cups flour, you might need more depending on a lot of factors.
My favorite way to get the texture I like is about 10 minutes into the knead cycle I will pinch a good size chunk of dough between my thumb and two or three fingers.
If it feels just moist and some dough sticks to my fingers, it's just right.
If no dough sticks, it's a bit dry and add a few teaspoons of water.
If it feels too soft and very sticky, add more flour until you get the right consistency after about another 5 minutes of kneading.