French Bread
 
 
This is unbelievably delicious!
 
1 cup    boiling water  
2 Tbs    butter-flavored Crisco  
2 Tbs    sugar  
1 Tbs    salt  
1 cup    cold water  
5 tsp    active dry yeast or 2 (1/4 oz)pkgs  
5 1/2-6 1/2 cups    all purpose flour, sifted  
  cornmeal  
1   egg white  
1 Tbs    water  
 
1 In a large bowl, combine boiling water, shortening, sugar and salt and stir to melt shortening. Stir in cold water and let mixture cool to 105 to 115° F Sprinkle yeast over mixture and let stand 15 minutes. Stir to dissolve. With an electric mixer, beat in 4 cups flour at medium speed 3 minutes. Stir in enough flour to make a stiff dough.
2 Turn dough out on a floured surface. Wash and grease large bowl. Knead dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl, turning dough to grease completely. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 45 min.)
3 Punch down dough, cover and let rise again until almost double, about 30 minutes. Grease a large baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead dough briefly until it forms a ball. Divide into 2 equal parts. Shape into 2 long loaves with tapered ends. Place on baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut 1/4 inch deep diagonal slices in dough. Brush with egg white mixture. Cover and let rise in warm place until just double in size (about 20 minutes.)
4 Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. (bottom sounds hollow when thunked)
 
Servings: 1
Yield: 2 (1 1/2) lb loaves
 
 Recipe Source

Author: Shirley Roberson

Source: Paula ARG Kernachan

 
Recipe formatted and exported by Living Cookbook from Radium Technologies, Inc.