I make a lot of French bread, and my recipe for 2 loaves is:

2 cups water
2 tsp. yeast
1.5 tsp. salt
flour to make elastic dough (amount varies, of course!)

Mix in KitchenAid or by hand, let rise until double, shape loaves,
let rise again, and
bake at 375 for about a half hour.

You can add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to the dough, and
then call it Italian
bread if you like!