Best Ever French Bread

Title:
Best Ever French Bread

Yield:
1 Servings

Categories:
Bread,
French




Ingredients:





     2 tb Shortening


   1/4 c  Sugar


     1 ts Salt


     2 c  Boiling water


     2 pk Yeast; DISSOLVED IN


   1/2 c  Warm water


     1 ts Sugar


 6 1/4 c  Flour


          Vegetable cooking spray; for


          -spraying pan


          Cornmeal; for dusting pan





----------------------------------EGG
WASH----------------------------------


     1    Egg white


     2 tb Water





 The following is one of the best and easiest recipes I have ever come


 across for French bread. I use it as a basic recipe, embellish it, and


 create many different loaves now. As you will see, it is low in fat and


 sodium and absolutely wonderful. Pam


 


 DIRECTIONS In a large bowl combine shortening, sugar and salt. Pour two


 cups boiling water over and mix; cool to lukewarm. Dissolve 2 packages


 yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add to cooled liquid;


 stir in 6 1/4 cups flour all at once. It will appear as though there is too


 much flour at the start of the stirring process. Do not be alarmed. Just


 continue with your stirring process until flour is mixed. Cover; allow to


 stand 10 minutes. Stir again; cover; allow to stand 10 minutes. Continue


 this for 1 hour total time. Divide dough in half. On floured surface, roll


 into a rectangle; roll up like a jelly roll. Place on baking sheet sprayed


 with cooking spray and dusted with cornmeal. Cut slashes in top. Brush each


 with a mixture made of one egg white and e tablespoons water. Cover and


 allow to rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 25


 minutes or until top test is done. After 15 minutes in the oven brush once


 more with the egg white mixture.


 


 VARIATIONS


 


 1) WHEAT BREAD Change white sugar to brown, and make it 1/3 cup instead of


 1/4 cup. Reduce flour to 4 1/4 cups; add 2 cups whole wheat flour.


 


 2) RYE BREAD Change sugar to brown (1/4 cup). Reduce flour to 4 1/4 cups,


 add 2 cups rye flour and 2 tablespoons caraway seeds.


 


 3) CHEESE BREAD Add 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or any other cheese you


 like.


 


 4) HERB & ONION Add 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning and 1/4 cup minced


 dried onions. Vary to your liking with dill, rosemary, etc.


 


 Recipe by: Pamela Gears


 


 Posted to TNT Recipes Digest by MarySpero@prodigy.com (MS MARY E SPERO) on


 Mar 10, 1998