• Gather the ingredients so you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.

Prepare the Dough

• In a large mixing bowl, mix together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon instant yeast, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
• In a small saucepan or microwavable bowl, combine 1 cup warm milk, 3/4 cups warm water, and 1/3 cup butter. Heat until butter starts to melt (between 110°-115°F).
• Add warmed liquids to the flour mixture. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour to form a firm dough.
• Continue kneading until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. (Or knead by hand on floured surface.) Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and allow to rise for 50-60 minutes.

Form and Bake Loaves

• Preheat oven to 400℉. At the end of the rising time, gently punch down dough. Turn onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. With a rolling pin, shape each into a 10 x 12" rectangle. Roll up jelly roll style, pinching edges and ends to seal.
• Transfer to a French Bread Baking Pan or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, placing sealed edges down. Allow to rise for 20-30 minutes.
• With a sharp knife or bread lame, score each loaf with 3-4 diagonal cuts. Bake in a preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
• Transfer loaves to a wire cooling rack. If desired, spread butter over the tops of the warm loaves for even more flavor.

Make the Dipping Oil

• While the bread bakes, prepare the dipping oil. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon minced dried onion, 1 tablespoon crushed rosemary, 1 tablespoon oregano, 1 teaspoon parsley, 1 teaspoon basil, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Store in airtight container to use as needed. This will make more than 1/4 cup of spice mix.
• When ready to serve the dipping oil, combine 1/2 cup Extra Virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons spice mix, and 2 teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar in a small serving dish. At this time, I also like to add in 1 tablespoon minced garlic for even more flavor. Serve dipping oil with warm French bread.
• This recipe makes 2 large loaves and will serve approximately 12 people.