French Onion Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 c. water
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 c. water
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. shortening or salad oil
6 to 6 1/2 c. sifted flour
corn meal

Preparation

Soften dry yeast in 1/4 cup water.
Combine soup mix and 2 cups water.
Simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
Add sugar, salt, cheese and shortening; stir.
Cool to lukewarm.
Stir in 2 cups of the flour; beat well.
Stir in yeast.
Add enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough.
Turn out on lightly floured surface.
Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
Knead until smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes).
Place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface.
Cover; let double in a warm place (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours).
Punch down; divide in half.
Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
Shape into 2 long loaves, tapering ends.
Place on greased baking sheet sprinkled with corn meal.
Gash tops diagonally, about 1/4-inch deep.
Cover.
Let double (about 1 hour).
Bake in moderate oven at 375\u00b0 for 20 minutes.
Brush with mixture of 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon _____.
Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until done.