French Bread

Combine the water or milk with yeast, salt, sugar and shortening. Stir until smooth. Add 4 cups sifted flour and beat until smooth. Add 5 or 6 cups of flour to make a stiff dough. Turn onto floured board. Let rise 5-10 minutes. Then knead until elastic (about 5 minutes). Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise in warm place until double in bulk. Knead down and rise again until double. Shape in long rolls and place on greased cookie sheets (2 to a sheet) and cut shallow diagonal slashes in top of each loaf. Let rise again and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.