"Martha" side of me ~ Easy French bread recipe (in bread machine)

1 1/2 cups water
4 cups white bread flour
2 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. yeast (fast rise), or 2 1/2 tsp. active dry

Place ingredients in bread machine pan in order given, set for 'basic' recipe and medium crust. Makes one large loaf in an 11 cup capacity bread machine (you can confirm the capacity of your pan by pouring water--by the cupful--to the rim of bread pan)

Bread has a crispy light colored crust--great for sandwiches, and goes great with soups!