Sourdough french bread, san francisco style

1. Dissolve yeast in hot water, pour into large mixing bowl and mix with starter.
2. Add 4 cups flour, sugar and salt and stir vigorously for 3 or 4 minutes.
3. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk (1 ½ to 2 hours).
4. Mixi soda with 1 cup of the remaining flour and stir in; the dough will be stiff.
5. Turn dough out onto a floured board and begin kneading; add the remaining 1 cup flour or more if necessary to control the stickiness.
6. Kneadi until satiny -- between 5 and 10 minutes.
7. shape into oblong loaves or one large round loaf (my preference).
8. Place on a lightly greased cooky sheet, cover, and place in a warm place; let rise to nearly double in size -- time will depend on warmth of spot -- 1 ½ to 2 hours in most kitchens.
9. before baking, brush outside with water, make diagonal slashes across the top with a sharp single edge razor blade.
10. Put a shallow pan of hot water in the bottom of the oven.
11. Bakei in a hot oven -- 400 egrees ~- until the crust is a medium dark brown (about 45 minutes for oblong loaves and about 55 minutes for the large round loaf).
12. for a more sour bread, leave out the yeast and ¼ c of water but include the rest of the warm water, all the starter, 4 cups of flour, sugar and salt.
13. Set this sponge after stirring vigorously in the afternoon and allow to set over night in a covered bowl.
14. In the morning dissolve the yeast in ¼ c of hot water and stir thoroughly into the sponge.
15. Then add your additional flour and soda and follow the remainder of the instructions from there.