This recipe doesn't use a bread machine, but it does require a heavy duty mixer such as a kitchenaid.

Italian Bread

2 1/2 cups hot water
2 Tbsp rapid rise yeast
5 Tbsp melted shortening
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp salt
6 cups flour

Mix together the water, shortening, sugar, salt and first two cups of flour. Add third cup of flour with yeast on top, mix. Add rest of flour. Knead four to five minutes.

Remove bowl from mixer. Cover let rise at intervals of 10 and 15 minutes. Minimum of 3 times. Punch down each time.

Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out into rectangles and roll up into a long roll. Press down on the fold each time you roll it over to prevent air bubbles. Let raise on lightly greased pan pan (either a rounded french loaf pan or on a cookie sheet), covered, for 20 minutes.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes