90 Minute French Bread

from jaimecooksitup.net Directions look long, but just take them one step at a time :)

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Yields: 3 loaves

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon shortening
• 1  tablespoon salt
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1  cup boiling water
• 1  cup cold water
• 1⁄3 cup  lukewarm water
• 1  tablespoon  yeast (I use active dry)
• 5 -6  cups all-purpose white flour
• 1  egg

Directions

1. Place the 1 C hot water in the microwave for 3 minutes to get it boiling.
2. Dissolve the yeast into the warm water. Stir it around until it is all mixed.
3. Combine the salt, shortening, and sugar in the bottom of your mixer with a fork. The dough hook doesn’t work very well.
4. Pour the boiling water over the shortening mixture.
5. Pour the cold water over the mixture.
6. Pour the warm water and yeast into the mixer.
7. Begin to add the flour, one cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the side of your mixer.
8. Let the dough mix on high for 8 minutes.
9. Let the dough rise in the mixer for about 20 minutes.
10. Separate the dough into three parts and place on a large jelly roll pan sprayed with cooking spray. Let the dough sit for about 5 minutes. Letting it sit will make it MUCH easier to shape.
11. Form or roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thick.
12. Starting at one edge, roll it into a tube.
13. Bring the ends up & over, overlapping slightly, flip to seam side down and set to the side while you repeat with the other 2 pieces.
14. Oil a sharp knife & make 3 diagonal slashes on each loaf (approximately 1/2 inch thick).
15. Prepare an egg wash (1 beaten egg, 2 T water, mixed well) and gently brush all over the loaves.
16. Place the loaves in a 170 degree oven for 20 minutes, to rise.
17. Leaving the loaves in the oven, turn oven up to 400 degrees F and bake for 15 minutes (375 degrees for 10 minutes, for a convection oven).
18. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees F & bake 10 minutes longer (325 for 7 minutes, for convection).