Creative Kids' Food- Snake Hoagie/ French Bread recipe

The kids liked making this.  We made home made French bread (this one was a double recipe), shaping the long loaf into a wavy line.  We used scissors to make cuts into the top for scales.  After baking, cut the loaf in half (a little tricky) and use to make a big hoagie.  Cut into slices to serve. 

French Bread (one small loaf)

1 1/4 Cup very warm water (not hot)
1 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. yeast
1 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cups Bread flour or all purpose flour

Glaze:  2 Tbs. water + 1/2 tsp. salt- mix until salt dissolves

*The dough can be made in a bread maker, using the dough program.  If you do that, run the first 5 ingredients on the dough program.  When done, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled.  Then follow same instructions after the first rise below.

Place warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl until the yeast bubbles and begins to rise- about 10 minutes.  Once it is ready, place into a mixer bowl and add salt and 3 cups of flour.  Using a dough hook, mix until all ingredients are incorporated.  Add flour until it is the right bread dough consistency, usually 1/2 cup.  Knead with the dough hook for 5 minutes.  When done, place in a greased bowl (spray with Pam) and turn over.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled. 

Punch dough down.  Roll into a rectangle with a rolling pin.  Starting with the longest side, roll up tightly, pressing the end seam to seal, tapering at both ends.  Place the loaf on a greased sheet (in a wavy line if making a snake).  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled again, about 40 minutes.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  With a sharp knife, cut shallow slashes on the top, on the diagonal (cut into scales with sharp scissors if making a snake) and gently brush the top with the salt water glaze.  Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes, until a deep golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool completely before cutting.