Shepherd'S Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups hot water
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup shortening
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 packages if using a 12-inch Dutch oven)
1/2 cup sugar
9 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preparation

Combine water, butter, sugar and salt.
Stir until butter melts; let cool to warm.
Stir in yeast, cover and set in a warm place until bubbly.
Add 5 cups of flour and beat with a wooden spoon to form a thick batter.
Stir in enough of the remaining flour (about 3 1/2 cups) to form a stiff dough.
Knead until smooth, about 10 minutes, add flour as needed.
Place dough in Dutch oven (well greased) and cover.
Set in a warm place to rise until doubled.
Punch down and knead on a floured board.
Return to Dutch oven and let rise until dough pushes up on the lid about 1/2 inch.
Bake covered with lid, in a 375\u00b0F oven for 12 minutes.
Remove lid and bake for 30-35 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.