Easy French Bread

• 1 pkg. dry yeast
• 1 1/2 c. very warm water
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. shortening
• 4 c sifted flour (I often combine 3 1/3 c. white with 2/3 c. whole wheat flour)
• butter or margarine for brushing top of bread

1. Sprinkle dry yeast into 1/2 cup of warm water.
2. Stir until yeast has dissolved.
3. Put the sugar, salt and shortening into a large bowl.
4. Add remaining cup of very warm water and stir until dissolved.
5. Add yeast mixture.
6. Add the 4 cups of flour and mix well, then stir through this dough with a spoon at 10-minute intervals five times.
7. (No kneading necessary.)
8. Next, have a lightly floured board and turn the dough onto it.
9. Cut the dough in half and shape into two balls.
10. Let rest for 10 minutes.
11. One hour's time in all, up to now.
12. Use rolling pin, roll each ball into a rectangle about 10 x 8-inches.
13. Using fingers, start rolling on the long side and roll tightly like a jelly roll.
14. Seal the edge of the dough by pinching together and place these 2 long rolls on a greased cookie sheet side by side.
15. Slash top of each roll diagonally six times.
16. Cover with a towel and allow to rise for 1 1/2 hours.
17. Bake at 400u0b0 for 30 to 35 minutes.
18. Brush tops of baked loaves with butter.

yeast, very warm water, sugar, salt, shortening, flour, butter

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=766442 (may not work)