This is the first made-from-scratch bread I ever learned - and it's still one of my favorites!

2 1/2 cups very warm water (I just use the hot water from my kitchen sink)

2 Tablespoons Dry Active yeast

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil (or olive oil)

6 cups flour

1 Tablespoon butter

In a large bowl, mix together water, yeast, and sugar until the yeast is completely dissolved.
Add in salt, oil, and flour. Stir with a large wooden spoon or mixer until it becomes too difficult, then knead for two minutes on a floured surface.
Spray a large bowl with non-stick cooking spray and place dough in the bowl. Cover with a dish towel and let it raise until it doubles in size (I usually place the bread in my kitchen window sill where there is sunlight and it's a little warmer. I have found that on cooler days - like in the winter time - it sometimes take a little longer to double in size).
Dump dough out onto a floured surface. Cut in half and shape into a smooth, worm-like shape (or a bread loaf shape). If you want to get fancy and make your bread look the way that it does in the picture, use a sharp knife and slice about 1/3 of the way down into the bread, opening up little cracks about 2" apart. The cracks will separate more as they rise and bake.
Place dough loaves on a greased cookie sheet and let rise again until doubled (about 25-30 minutes).
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
Remove bread from oven and rub butter on top.
Makes two loaves of french bread.