CLASSIC WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. Stir in 2 2/3 cups warm water, sugar, salt, shortening and 5 cups of the flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
• Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up.
• Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1 hour (dough is ready if impression remains).
• Punch dough down; divide in half.
• Roll each half into rectangle, 18 x 9 inches.
• Roll up, beginning at short side.
• With side of hand, press each end to seal.
• Fold ends under loaf.
• Place seam side down in greased loaf pan, 9 x 5 x 3 inches (or three 8.5 x 4.5 x 2 inch loaf pans).
• Brush loaves lightly with butter.
• Let rise until double, about 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 425.
• Place loaves on low rack so that top of pans are in center of oven.
• Pans should not touch each other or sides of oven.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped.
• Remove from pans immediately.
• Brush loaves with soft butter; cool on wire rack.