Ranch French Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
• 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 2 cups warm buttermilk (110 to 115 degrees)
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope original ranch dressing mix or 4 tablespoons ranch dressing
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 8 -9 cups all-purpose flour

Recipe

• 1 in mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; then add 1 teaspoon sugar; let stand for five minutes.
• 2 add the buttermilk, butter (or margarine), eggs, ranch dressing mix (or salad dressing), salt, 4 cups flour and remaining sugar; mix well until smooth.
• 3 stir in 4 or 5 more cups of flour until you have a soft dough.
• 4 knead the bread dough on a floured surface for about 6 or 7 minutes, then put it in a greased bowl, cover& let rise for about an hour; until doubled in size.
• 5 on a floured surface, punch dough and divide into 4 equal sections.
• 6 shape each into a long"log" about 12 inches long but not too wide and flat, then slash the top of each loaf with a knife.
• 7 cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled; about 30 minutes.
• 8 bake in a 350 oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown; but do not bake more than 2 loaves at a time.