French bread a la KitchenAid

On Sunday, my baking weekend continued with french bread. I used the recipe in the KitchenAid cookbook.

Here's the dough kneading in the mixer -- I love to watch the dough hook at work.

Here it is after the 1st rising -- it was really nice and smooth.

Then I formed into a loaf, to get it ready for the 2nd rising.

After the 2nd rising I made slashes in the dough, and it was ready for the oven.

And here it is cooling on the rack... it came out picture-perfect, if I do say so myself. Pass the butter!