Salt Rising Bread

Ingredients

1 med potato, peeled, thinly sliced
2 cups boiling water
2 Tbsp cornmeal
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 pkg yeast
7 cups flour
1 cup warm milk (110)
2 Tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda

Instructions

Place potato slices in a medium bowl. Pour boiling water over potato. Stir in cornmeal, sugar, and the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set bowl in a warm place, uncovered, till mixture is foamy and has a yeasty odor, about 24 hours. Strain starter mixture, discard potato, and add water if needed to make 1 3/4 cups liquid. Add yeast; stir to dissolve. Stir in 3 cups of the flour, the milk, oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and soda. Beat well. Cover; let rise in a warm place till very light (about 1 hour). Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough till smooth and elastic, 6 to 8 minutes. Divide in half. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Shape dough into 2 loaves. Place in two greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Let rise in a warm place till nearly doubled (about 45 minutes). Bake at 375 for 30 to 35 minutes.