Shepherd's Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 57 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 57 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups hot water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 packages if using a 12-inch dutch oven)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 9 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Recipe

• 1 combine water, butter, sugar and salt.
• 2 stir until butter melts; let cool to warm.
• 3 stir in yeast, cover and set in a warm place until bubbly.
• 4 add 5 cups of flour and beat with a wooden spoon to form a thick batter.
• 5 stir in enough of the remaining flour (about 3 1/2 cups) to form a stiff dough.
• 6 knead until smooth, about 10 minutes, add flour as needed.
• 7 place dough in dutch oven (well greased) and cover.
• 8 set in a warm place to rise until doubled.
• 9 punch down and knead on a floured board.
• 10 return to dutch oven and let rise until dough pushes up on the lid about 1/2 inch.
• 11 bake covered with lid, in a 375°f oven for 12 minutes.
• 12 remove lid and bake for 30-35 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.