Fabulous French Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 cups flour
2 tablespoons dry yeast
cornmeal (for dusting baking sheet)
1 egg, beaten lightly

Preparation

Pour warm water into a large, warm mixing bowl.
Stir in sugar, salt, oil, 3 cups of flour, and yeast.
Beat vigorously for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in remaining flour until all dry ingredients are incorporated, leaving spoon right in batter.
Allow dough to rest 10 minutes; then stir down.
Allow dough to rest another 10 minutes and stir down again.
Repeat this process until dough has been stirred down 5 times.
Turn dough onto floured surface.
Knead only enough to coat the dough with flour so it can be handled.
Divide dough into 2 parts.
Roll each half into a rectangle approximately 9x12 inches, and roll up like a jelly roll starting from the long side.
Pinch ends to seal.
Arrange on a large baking sheet that has been dusted with cornmeal, leaving enough room for both loaves.
Cover lightly and let rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.
With a very sharp knife, cut 3 diagonal slashes on top of each loaf.
Brush each loaf with beaten egg.
Bake immediately at 400\u00b0F for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire racks.
*NOTE: I have used my Kitchenaid mixer to do all the mixing and it works great either way.