French Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c. scalded milk
1/2 c. boiling water
1 pkg. dry yeast dissolved in 1/2 c. warm water, 105~ to 115~
1 1/2 Tbsp. melted shortening
1 Tbsp. sugar
4 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar

Preparation

Measure these into a large mixing bowl.
Make a hole in the center of flour mixture and pour liquid mixture.
Stir thoroughly, but do not knead.
The dough will be soft.
Cover with a damp cloth and set in a warm place to rise, allowing about 2 hours.(Put cold oven on for 1 minute then cut off and let dough rise in there.) Punch down the dough.
Place on a floured board and pat into two equal oblongs.
Form each into a French loaf by rolling the dough away from you.
Continue rolling, pressing outward with the hands and tapering the dough toward the ends until a long, thin form results.
Place the 2 loaves on a greased baking sheet.
Cut diagonal 1/4-inch deep slits across the tops with sharp pointed scissors.
Set in a warm place to rise to somewhat less than doubled in bulk.
Preheat oven to 400\u00b0.
On bottom of oven, place a pan filled with 1/2-inch boiling water.
Bake 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350\u00b0 and bake about 30 minutes.
Yeild 2 loaves.