Easy French Bread

Oh my goodness. 1) These will be the biggest loaves of bread you will ever create. 2) They will be the most moist, succulent loaves of French bread ever to touch your lips. Spread thick with butter and honey and enjoy!

1/2 cup warm water
2 TBSP yeast
2 cups hot water
1/3 cup shortening (melted)
3 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP salt
6 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400'. Dissolve yeast into warm water. Combine remaining ingredients, using only 3 cups of flour and beat well. Add yeast and beat well. Add remaining flour to make a soft dough that can still be mixed with a wooden spoon, then allow to rest 10 minutes. Stir down batter, let rest again. Repeat process of stirring dough followed by 10 minute rests until it has been done 5 times.

Turn dough out onto floured board. Knead only enough to coat dough with flour so it can be handled, then divide into 2 parts. Roll each part of dough into a 9x12 rectangle and roll like a jellyroll. Make sure the sides and ends are well pinched and smoothed. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg whites. Cut diagonally across the top about 3 times and let rise until double. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown!

YIELD: 2 HUGE loaves