We are a bread loving family so trying to keep bread in the house while avoiding the supermarket is no easy task.

With time on my hands, I have tried repeatedly to make a nice loaf of bread with little to no success. But I did not give up and finally have a winner!

With a ham bone in the freezer and beans in the pantry I hear a call for a hearty bowl of soup with a slab of warm crusty bread. Enter… the experts at Food Network. From them I discovered a recipe with step-by-step videos. How can I go wrong?

Recipe on FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients

2 envelopes dry active yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 cups warm water (divided)
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons salt
Canola oil, for greasing bowl
Cornmeal, for dusting pan
3 to 4 ice cubes

After mixing it up and putting the ball of dough into a bowl, I let it rise.

After about an hour it was ready to form into loaves, no kneading required.

Covered then left them to sit for 45 minutes, until double in size, and they are ready for the oven.

After a few minutes, I brushed the tops with melted butter to give them a delicious shine. Pretty impressive don’t you think?

These came out amazing. While a nice crusty loaf of french bread might be yummy with soup, these baguettes would be great for appetizers or split lengthwise for a sandwich or as toasted garlic bread.

Now I am off to make the soup!