Homemade White Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. milk
1 1/4 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. shortening
1 c. warm water
2 cakes yeast
5 3/4 c. white flour, sifted

Preparation

Scald milk.
Add sugar, salt, shortening and 1/2 cup warm water, and stir until shortening is melted.
Cool to lukewarm, about 85\u00b0; add yeast which has been dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water.
Add half the flour and beat until smooth.
Add remaining flour and mix well.
Turn onto a floured board and knead until smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes.
Shape into a smooth ball and place in a greased bowl.
Brush top lightly with melted butter, cover with clean towel and let rise in a warm place (80\u00b0 to 85\u00b0) for 1 1/2 hours, or until double in bulk.
Then punch down, turn onto floured board, and shape into two loaves.
Place in greased loaf pans (9 x 5 x 3-inches).
Cover with towel and let rise in warm place until double in bulk (about 1 hour).
Bake in a moderately hot oven (400\u00b0) for 45 minutes.
Makes two 1-pound loaves.