Makes 2 loaves
Mix 1
2 pkg. yeast - make sure it's not out of date.
1/2 Cup water - lukewarm 95 - 105ºF
3/4 tsp. sugar
Mix 2
4 ¼ cups bread flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tbs. sugar
4 tbs. cooking oil
1 cup water
Combine Mix 1 in 2 cup measuring cup. Let sit for 10 minutes. Yeast should activate and foam up to almost double in size. If it doesn't the yeast is either no good or you killed it using water that was too hot.
Combine
dry ingredients in Mix 2 and mix well. Add Mix 1, and, water and oil to
dry ingredients. Kneed dough for about 10 minutes. I don't know if this
recipe will work in a bread machine. If it does let me know. 
Dough
should be smooth in texture when finished. Be sure to add flour to the
working surface to keep the dough from sticking to it and your hands.
Grease
a bowl and put the dough in it and lightly grease the dough. Cover the
bowl with a towel and put it in a draft-free 80 - 85ºF place to rise.
It
should double in size in about an hour and a half. 
Punch
it down, divide it in two and shape the loaves. Spray the bottom of the
pan with a cooking spray, or just oil it. This pan is a bit large for
the size loaves you'll see. [You can also buy special French Bread
Baking Pans.] You can make small slices on the top to make it pretty.
Place
the loaves in the pan you'll be baking in, cover with a towel and put to
rise again for about the same time. 
Pre-heat
oven to 375ºF. Place loaves in oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or,
until they turn golden brown. 
Slice
with an electric knife. Enjoy