Sicking Family Recipe Library

Italian Bread

From a set of her traditional recipes that mom (grandma jinny) gave to paul & janet as a wedding present.

Ingredients:
2 packages Yeast	½ cup warm Water
2 cups bOiling Water	2 Tbsp. Shortening
2 Tbsp. Sugar	1 tsp.
6 cups sifted Flour	1 Egg White
1 Tbsp. Water

Method: Soften Yeast in ½ cup Water. to bOiling Water add Shortening, Sugar, and Salt. cool to luke warm.
add 2 cups Flour. and beat until smooth.
add softened Yeast and 2 cups more Flour and beat well again.
cover and let rise in a warm place until light and bubbly - about 45 minutes.
beat down and add enough additional Flour to make a moderately still dough.
turn out on a Floured board and knead until smooth and satiny.
place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled (about 1½ hours.)
punch down and divide into three equal parts.
combine Egg White and 1 Tbsp. Water. roll out each portion of dough to ¼ inch thick.
roll tightly like a jelly roll and place on ungreased baking sheet. make diagonal cuts along top of each loaf about ⅛ inch deep.
brush tops with Egg White mixture, and let rise in warm place until almost doubled.
brush again with Egg White mixture.
bake at 425° for 35-40 minutes.