French Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup lukewarm water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 cake compressed yeast
1 tbsp. soft shortening
3 1/2 cups flour.
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together. Roll into 15x10 oblong. Roll up tightly beginning with
wide side. Seal edges by pinching together. With a hand on each end, roll gently
back and forth to lengthen loaf and taper ends. Place it diagonally on lightly greased
corn meal-sprinkled baking sheet. Make 1/4" slashes in dough at 2" intervals, or
1 slash lengthwise. Brush top with cold water. Let stand uncovered about 1 1/2 hours.
Brush again and bake. Bake 10 min. at 425 degrees. Remove from oven and brush again.
Reduce temperature to 375 and bake 10 minutes more. Remove from oven and brush again.
Sprinkle with sesame or poppy-seed. Continue baking 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Note: for more glaze and less crustiness, use egg white wash (1 egg white, slightly
beaten with 1 tbsp. water).
