Italian French Bread - cooking recipe

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

Preparation

Stir yeast in warm water until dissolved.
Stir in 3 cups of the flour, sugar, salt and shortening.
Beat until smooth.
Beat in remaining flour (3 cups of flour) to make a stiff dough.
Knead dough for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic, using flour to keep from sticking.
Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with towel and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
Punch down dough and let rise another 30 minutes.
Punch dough again.
Knead 1 minute.
Divide into 3 even pieces.
Roll each piece jelly roll fashion and place on large greased cooking sheet
2 inches apart seam side down.
Sprinkle with cornmeal.
Let rise, covered, for 30 minutes.
Make cuts on top of bread.
Beat egg white with cold water.
Brush over each loaf.
Place pan of
hot water on bottom shelf in oven.
Place loaves on shelf above.
Bake in hot oven (400\u00b0) for 30 minutes or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.
Remove from cookie sheet and cool on wire racks.