ART'S FRENCH BREAD (NOT BREAD MACHINE)

Art's French Bread (NOT bread machine) image

Provided by echo echo

Time 2h55m

Yield 3-4 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/2 cups yogurt
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons yeast
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
6 -7 cups king arthur gluten flour or 6 -7 cups similar gluten flour
unsalted butter
white cornmeal
1 egg white
salt

Steps:

Pour the yogurt into a fairly large pan and add the hot water.
Put 1 Tbs yeast on one side of the bowl and 1 Tbs on the other.
Do the same with salt and sugar.
DO NOT STIR this mixture.
Let set until a scummy surface is formed.
Then add 2 cups flour and stir.
Add 2 more cups flour and continue mixing.
Slowly add 2 more cups flour or slightly more until the dough becomes real pasty.
Flour a bread board and knead the dough.
Continue to knead until the dough becomes somewhat stiff.
Place the dough in the bowl and let rise 1 hour, then punch it down and knead it again.
Let it rise again, then cut into 3-4 loaves and form into loaf shape.
Spread a light film of butter on foil or a baking sheet and sprinkle corn meal over the film of butter.
Place the loaves on the foil 1½-2" apart.
Mix egg white with a little water and a pinch of salt and paint the loaves with this mixture.
Score the loaves.
Bake on middle rack of oven at 375° 30-40 minute If the loaf sounds hollow when tapped with your finger, it's done.
3-4 loaves.