Easy French Bread

I had never made bread until I made this. It was very easy, and super yummy! Also, I did not have a mixer, so I just mixed and kneaded the dough with my hands. Thanks for the great recipe Cairen!

Combine in a large bowl, or mixer:
3 cups hot water
2 Tbls dry active yeast
2 Tbls sugar
1 Tbls salt
2 Tbls butter
7 cups flour

Mix all ingredients on low till mixed. Then mix on high for 4 minutes. Divide into four rolled logs. Grease cookie sheet and sprinkle bottom with corn meal. Let dough rest for 30 minutes. Bake for 20 min. at 400 degrees.

Delicious Pesto

1 16 pkg. penne pasta, cooked according to pkg. directions. Save one ladleful of pasta water for sauce.

Combine in a processor and mix until a thick sauce forms:
20 basil leaves
zest of one lemon
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
3 cloves of garlic crushed, or minced
pepper

When pasta is almost done, add ladle of pasta water to pesto sauce and mix in processor again. Toss pesto with warm pasta and sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.