San Francisco Style Sourdough French Bread

• 1 1/2 cups water, warm
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1 cup sourdough starter
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups bread flour

1. In a large mixing bowl dissolve yeast in warm water, mix with starter.
2. Add 3 cups flour, sugar and salt, stir vigorously 2 or 3 minutes.
3. Cover with a cloth, set in warm place and let rise 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.
4. Mix baking soda with 1 cup of remaining flour and stir in, the dough should be stiff.
5. Turn out onto a floured surface and begin kneading.
6. Add the remaining 1 cup of flour or more if needed to control stickiness.
7. Knead until satiny, between 5 and 10 minutes.
8. Shape into 2 oblong loaves or 1 large round loaf, place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
9. Cover with a cloth, set in warm place free from drafts and let rise 1 to 2 hours or until nearly doubled in size.
10. Before baking, brush outside with water and make diagonal slashes across the top with a sharp single-edge razor blade.
11. Put a shallow pan of hot water in the bottom of the oven.
12. Bake at 400u0b0 F for 45 minutes or until the crust is a medium dark brown.

water, yeast, sourdough starter, bread flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, bread flour

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/san-francisco-style-sourdough-french-bread-180964 (may not work)