Italian French Bread

Ingredients

• 3 tsp yeast
• 2 c warm water
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 3 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp vegetable shortening
• 6 c all-purpose flour
• 1 egg white
• 1 Tbsp cold water
• cornmeal

Directions

1. Stir yeast in warm water until dissolved
2. Stir in 3 cups of the flour sugar salt and shortening
3. Beat until smooth
4. Beat in remaining flour 3 cups of flour to make a stiff dough
5. Knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic using flour to keep from sticking
6. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with towel and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes
7. Punch down dough and let rise another 30 minutes
8. Punch dough again
9. Knead 1 minute
10. Divide into 3 even pieces
11. Roll each piece jelly roll fashion and place on large greased cooking sheet
12. 2 inches apart seam side down
13. Sprinkle with cornmeal
14. Let rise covered for 30 minutes
15. Make cuts on top of bread
16. Beat egg white with cold water
17. Brush over each loaf
18. Place pan of
19. hot water on bottom shelf in oven
20. Place loaves on shelf above
21. Bake in hot oven 400 for 30 minutes or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped
22. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on wire racks