Fabulous French Bread

My favorite way to eat this bread is sliced with butter and honey and then put in the oven for a few minutes.  The crust gets a little bit crustier and the center is soft and warm, it is sooo good!

Fabulous French Bread

2 packages of yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)

1/2 cup warm water

Pinch of sugar

Combine water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl.  Let rest 10 minutes.

2 cups hot water

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

5 tablespoons shortening, melted

5 1/2 to 6 cups flour

Combine hot water, sugar, salt, shortening and 3 cups of flour in a bowl of electric mixer.  Add yeast mixture and 2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour and mix until combined.  Let dough rest for 10 minutes, beat down.  Repeat the rest and beat down step 4 more times.  Turn dough onto a floured surface and divide in half.  Shape into 2 long loaves and place on sheet pan or a French Bread loaf pan.  With a sharp knife (I use a razor blade) make 3 diagonal cuts on each loaf.  Brush loaves with egg white.  Let rise for 30 minutes.  Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes.

*I got this recipe from my mama, she use to make this bread all the time when I was little.