Easy French Bread - yeast

Method

• Sprinkle dry yeast into 1/2 cup of warm water.
• Stir until yeast has dissolved.
• Put the sugar, salt and shortening into a large bowl.
• Add remaining cup of very warm water and stir until dissolved.
• Add yeast mixture.
• Add the 4 cups of flour and mix well, then stir through this dough with a spoon at 10-minute intervals five times.
• (No kneading necessary.)
• Next, have a lightly floured board and turn the dough onto it.
• Cut the dough in half and shape into two balls.
• Let rest for 10 minutes.
• One hour's time in all, up to now.
• Use rolling pin, roll each ball into a rectangle about 10 x 8-inches.
• Using fingers, start rolling on the long side and roll tightly like a jelly roll.
• Seal the edge of the dough by pinching together and place these 2 long rolls on a greased cookie sheet side by side.
• Slash top of each roll diagonally six times.
• Cover with a towel and allow to rise for 1 1/2 hours.
• Bake at 400° for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Brush tops of baked loaves with butter.