Italian Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 pkg. dry yeast
3 Tbsp. shortening
8 to 10 c. flour
1 egg, beaten
3 Tbsp. sugar
3 c. warm water
1 Tbsp. salt

Preparation

Dissolve yeast, sugar and shortening in water.
Stir in 4 cups flour, salt and egg.
Beat until smooth.
Stir in enough of remaining flour to form a stiff dough.
Turn out onto floured surface.
Knead until smooth and elastic.
Put into a greased bowl, turn to coat.
Cover with double thickness of plastic wrap to rise. Punch dough down every 10 minutes for the first hour.
Let rise for 1 hour more or until doubled.
Punch down.
Rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into loaves, 2 large or 4 small.
Place on greased cookie sheets or 9 x 5-inch bread pans.
Slash tops.
Cover and let rise 1 hour.
Bake at 350\u00b0 for 45 minutes.
Brush warm loaves with melted butter.