French Bread

5-7 cups flour

5 tablespoons salad oil

2 cups hot water

2 pkgs dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 cup warm water

1 egg white

sesame or poppy seeds (optional)

Combine 1/2 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 pkgs yeast in a small bowl. Set aside to let yeast dissolve.

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups hot water, 3 tablespoons sugar, 5 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon salt. Cool until lukewarm and then stir in 3 cups of flour. Then beat in yeast. Add 2-4 cups more flour to make a workable dough. Leave spoon in dough and let rest 10 minutes. Stir down and let rest 10 minutes(repeat 2x). Form dough into 2 or 3 loaves. Place on a cookie sheet. Beat egg whites and brush over tops.

Sprinkle with seeds and make 3 slits over tops with knife. Let rise for 30 minutes. Place in pre-heated 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, If bread browns too quickly, cover it with foil. Let cool before slicing.

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