It's been awhile!

Sorry it's been so long, my friend is still in ICU, but she is improving very slowly. For awhile it didn't look like she was going to make it, but this past week (her fourth week in ICU), she was finally lucid and able to squeeze the doctor's hand, as well as open her eyes. Huge improvements!
Now for the cooking part! :) Yesterday I made my amazing French Bread. I first heard about this on a youtube video by netman21 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTY4WJRSzY8), but I've made some changes to it.
I get a nice big part of my counter cleared off and cleaned, and then I take out my flour container, a biiiig bowl, salt, sugar, and my quick rising yeast. I usually buy the little jars of it, cheaper, and they last forever in the fridge! I mix 4 cups of flour (any kind, I've made it with bread flour, didn't really notice a difference), with 2 tablespoons of salt, and 1/2 tablespoons of sugar. I also mix my 1 tablespoon of yeast with some warm (not hot) water in a small bowl. I let the yeast mix with the water for a minute or two, then pour the yeasty water into my flour mixture and mix. I usually add anther bowl or two of water, before it gets sticky. Then comes the dirtying of the counter you just cleaned! I put a plentyful amount of flour on my counter, put my sticky mess on the flour, and then add more on top. I know that I add too much water to begin with, but that's the way I do it! :). Then comes the kneading. Knead in the same direction for around 2 minutes, adding more flour as it sticks to your hands. Then, leave it alone on the counter while you wash your big bowl in hot water. Then, when it's all clean, you knead the dough a little more, then just plop it straight into the bowl! :) Cover it with a plastic grocery bag or clingwrap, and leave it alone for two hours.
Two hours later: Assuming you washed your counter after you kneaded it the first time, flour it again, and plop out the dough that has risen at least twice the amount it was. Knead it a few times, then start to shape it like seen in the video. I can't quite describe that part!!! I BARELY pam the baking pan, and put it on there to rise for another hour or so (I've let it go longer, no worries!). When it's got a few minutes to go, start preheating your oven at 400 degrees F, and put some water in a broiler pan (or you can do like he does in the video, just be careful not to burn yourself!!!!). When you are just about ready to put your dough in the oven, get out one egg and separate it. I just use the egg whites, and brush them over the bread to give it that golden color, otherwise it'll come out kinda whiteish, and doesn't look as nice. Put it in the oven and immediately turn it down to 350 degrees F. Cook for around 35 minutes, but again, I've cooked it longer, it's a very forgiving bread. It's amazing hot out of the oven with butter or olive oil and seasonings, but you can save it and use it the next day for whatever, french toast, sandwiches, etc. Sorry for the no pics part, I completely forgot til after I took it out of the oven!!! Take it from me, this bread is AMAZING!!!! :D Have a great day!!!