Art's French Bread (NOT bread machine)

A recipe I got from a boss of mine years ago. Use low-fat yogurt if you want a more sour taste. Cooking time includes both time for dough to rise twice and time for baking.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 55 mins
• Yields: 3-4 loaves

Ingredients

• 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

Directions

1. Pour the yogurt into a fairly large pan and add the hot water.
2. Put 1 Tbs yeast on one side of the bowl and 1 Tbs on the other.
3. Do the same with salt and sugar.
4. DO NOT STIR this mixture.
5. Let set until a scummy surface is formed.
6. Then add 2 cups flour and stir.
7. Add 2 more cups flour and continue mixing.
8. Slowly add 2 more cups flour or slightly more until the dough becomes real pasty.
9. Flour a bread board and knead the dough.
10. Continue to knead until the dough becomes somewhat stiff.
11. Place the dough in the bowl and let rise 1 hour, then punch it down and knead it again.
12. Let it rise again, then cut into 3-4 loaves and form into loaf shape.
13. Spread a light film of butter on foil or a baking sheet and sprinkle corn meal over the film of butter.
14. Place the loaves on the foil 1½-2" apart.
15. Mix egg white with a little water and a pinch of salt and paint the loaves with this mixture.
16. Score the loaves.
17. Bake on middle rack of oven at 375° 30-40 minute If the loaf sounds hollow when tapped with your finger, it's done.
18. 3-4 loaves.