Chef John's Cuban Bread

Ingredients (9)

• + ½ teaspoon active dry yeast add to pantry
• + ½ cup warm water add to pantry
• + ½ cup flour add to pantry
• + 2 teaspoons white sugar add to pantry
• + 3 tablespoons lard add to pantry
• + 2 teaspoons fine salt add to pantry
• + 3 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed - divided add to pantry
• ✓ 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• + Water to spray tops of loaves add to pantry