French Bread

French Bread


2 tablespoons yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups very hot water
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening
6 cups flour


Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.

In a large bowl, combine hot water, salt, sugar, and shortening and stir.  Add 2 cups flour and stir well.  Add proofed yeast and stir.  Add 4 cups flour and stir well.  It should form sort of a shaggy dough:

Set the timer for 10 minutes and then stir down the dough.  Repeat 4 more time (5 times total).

After the 5th time, turn the dough out on a well-floured board and cut in 2 equal portions.
Roll each half into an elongated rectangle.  Place both halves, side by side, on a large cookie sheet covered in cornmeal.  Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Slash each loaf 3 times with a sharp knife and brush on an egg/water glaze, if desired. (You may also sprinkle sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or salt crystals on top of loaves at this point.)

Bake 20-30 minutes and cool on a wire rack.