White Bread Loaf

Directions

1. Scald milk; stir in sugar, salt, and shortening; stir until sugar dissolves; cool to lukewarm.
2. Sprinkle yeast on water; stir till dissolved.
3. Add milk mixture.
4. Stir in 3 cups of the flour; beat till smooth.
5. Stir in remaining flour.
6. Turn out on a lightly floured board.
7. Knead: fold dough over toward you.
8. Press down away from you with the heel of your hand.
9. Give dough a quarter turn.
10. Continue until dough is smooth and elastic, and does not stick to the board.
11. Place in a greased bowl; brush top with melted shortening.
12. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise in warm place 80° to 85° until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
13. Punch down: turn out on lightly floured board.
14. Divide dough in half.
15. Shape into 2 loaves: place in greased loaf pans, 8 by 4 by 3 inches.
16. Cover with a damp cloth: let rise in a warm place 80f to 85f until center of dough is slightly higher than the edges of the pans, about 1 hour.
17. Meanwhile set oven for hot, 400f.
18. Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour.
19. Remove from pans immediately and cool on a rack.