Fabulously Easy Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup hot milk
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 package dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 6 cups all-purpose flour (approx.)

Recipe

• 1 mix shortening, salt, and sugar in a large bowl for about 2 minutes.
• 2 do not worry if the shortening does not completely melt, but make a good attempt.
• 3 add the hot milk and water.
• 4 let cool to lukewarm.
• 5 in a small bowl, mix yeast with 1/4 cup water.
• 6 let stand 5 minutes.
• 7 add 3 cups flour and yeast all at once and mix until well blended.
• 8 add 2 more cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing until blended well.
• 9 pour dough onto lightly floured board.
• 10 (it will not actually"pour," so scrape out remnants with a spatula or potlicker.) knead for two minutes with floured hands.
• 11 let rest for ten minutes.
• 12 dough will be very sticky.
• 13 adding enough of the remaining flour to keep the dough from sticking, knead the dough until smooth, elastic, and pliable (about 8-10 minutes.) place the dough in a large, greased bowl, turning once to grease.
• 14 cover and allow to rise in a warm spot for about an hour or until doubled in bulk.
• 15 punch dough down and let rise to previous size and perhaps a little bigger (about 30-45 minutes.) split dough into two halves.
• 16 place each half in a loaf pan and cover.
• 17 allow to rise until doubled in bulk (anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours) bake in 425 degree oven for 15 minutes.
• 18 remove from oven and cover in a cloth.
• 19 change oven heat to 375 and bake for 15 minutes.
• 20 remove pan from oven and immediately remove from pan.
• 21 knock lightly on the bottom of the loaf.
• 22 if a hollow sound is made, bread is done.
• 23 if not, return to the pan and bake 5-15 minutes.
• 24 allow to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
• 25 notes for great crusts: for a hard, crisp crust, brush the top with cold water three or four times while baking.
• 26 for a soft crust, brush with cold milk or melted butter before baking.
• 27 for a shiny crust, brush a mixture of egg yolk and one tbsp milk on bread before baking.