French Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 pkg. yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water, divided
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. shortening
4 1/2 c. flour

Preparation

Sprinkle yeast into 1/2 cup warm water.
In large bowl, dissolve sugar and salt in remaining water.
Add shortening and yeast mixture.
Mix well.
Stir in flour and mix well again.
Set in warm place and work through dough with spoon at 10-minute intervals, 5 times.
Divide dough and turn half onto lightly floured board.
Shape into rectangle and roll firmly as for jelly roll.
Seal edge.
Repeat for other half.
Place rolls, sealed side down, on greased baking sheet.
Score tops diagonally 6 times. Cover with towel and let rise 1 1/2 hours.
Bake at 400\u00b0 for 30 to 35 minutes.
Remove and brush with melted butter.
(Good hard crust with 4 1/2 cups flour.)