Parker House Bread

5 teaspoons yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening - softened
2 eggs
5 to 6 cups bread flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter - melted


In a large bowl, whisk together water and yeast. After a minute, stir in sugar, salt, shortening, eggs and most of flour. Mix, then knead on a lightly floured board, adding more flour as required, to make a smooth, elastic dough. You may also make the dough in your bread machine (dough cycle). Remove when dough cycle is complete, gentle deflate and continue forming dough as explained below.

Place dough in a lightly greased bowl and insert the bowl in a large plastic bag. Let rise 35 to 50 minutes (until almost doubled). Gently deflate dough, then cut into six equal portions. Let rest a minute.

Form each portion into a tight ball and place them in a large (12 by 5 inch) loaf pan, or two 9 by 5, or 8 by 4 inch loaf pans which have been generously sprayed with non stick cooking spray. Place loaf pan(s) in a large plastic bag and let rise until quite puffy, (40 to 60) minutes. Preheat oven to 350 F. Place loaf pans on a large baking sheet. Carefully drizzle melted butter over top of bread, using hands or a brush to coat bread evenly. Bake until nicely browned (35 to 40 minutes).