This is the second French bread recipe I have tried, and so far this has turned out the best. I probably added a little more honey and a little more salt than called for but it turned out well. Also, I adjusted the recipe up as another viewer suggested to make a more normal size loaf when baking without a bread machine. The bread was not too dense, the crust was lightly crispy, and the flavor was really nice. The smell of this bread is wonderful. A great beginner bread to make. Oh, and I made two small rounds rather than one long loaf. My husband and kids loved it with the fresh butter I made to go with it. Yum!