Saturday, November 13, 2010

SOURDOUGH IN THE KITCHEN...

Sourdough starter mixed with water and flour the night before...
aka...the sponge

Many, many years ago I attempted to make a sourdough starter.
Back then there were just a couple of cookbooks I got my ideas from, and let's just say my experimenting didn't bode well.
Can you say "lead bread"?

After a slow rise overnight in the dehydrator, and a firm kneading in the heavy duty mixer, the gluten is formed. See how stretchy the dough is? That tells you the gluten is there!

This summer I signed up for the free/pay what you can Sourdough e-course offered at GNOWFGLINS.
(You can sign up...it's easy-peasy!)
And after keeping my starter healthy and flourishing for weeks and weeks, I let it die.

R.I.P. sourdough starter.

About 3 weeks ago, to keep my mind off of all the things going on here, I began again.

2nd rise...It's a beautiful thing

I've had lots of success with sourdough pancakes, and sourdough english muffins, but it was time to bring out the big guns and try some bread.

Sweet victory!

Ooh, it felt so good to bring those loaves out of the oven, smelling their slight soury smells.
Even better was the tasting.
Not too sour, not too heavy.
Just right.
Bread...the staff of life.

xoxo,
Cindy
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15 comments:

Laura said...

What an accomplishment!
How satisfying-

I have never tried that but you have inspired me,

Laura
White Spray Paint

Cedar Hill Chronicles said...

Beautiful Cindy. Congrats on the success. I've been doing the E Course also.

Lady Farmer said...

Yay for you! Your bread looks fantastic! I tried to *start a starter* last winter, but couldn't get it to work. I wasted a lot of flour! Hubby loves the Garlic Sourdough that I buy sometimes at the grocery store ~ it is very good. I would love to be able to bake some of my own. I may have to look into the GNOWFGLINS e-course.
Blessings!

Prairiemaid said...

Wow, the smell of fresh bake sourdough...AWESOME! I don't think there is anything better or more satisfying.

Congrats on a job well done!

Blessings,
Cheryl

Holly said...

I've been dusting off my sourdough starter lately also. The start has sat in the refrigerator for quite a spell. Maybe it is the cool weather that has us inspired to get it going again and begin to experiment further. I've of course been making pancakes, waffles and I'm trying some new bread recipes with it. Oh how nice the kitchen smells with fresh bread baking in the oven. Now if only I can get the grandkids hooked on home-made bread.

Justine said...

mmm Ive been wanting to try sourdough bread for the longest time. Maybe with the weather turning it would be a good time to try plus with the woodstove going all the bread rises superfast.

teenaghealthfreak said...

yours looks really good!! my starter is "sleeping" in the fridge right now. I've only made bread with mine, never tried the pancakes and stuff!!! i used the nourishing tradition's recipe!!

Ann at eightacresofeden said...

Congratulations on the bread Cyn - isn't sourdough just the best bread? I call it 'real bread'.
I was able to drop off a jar of starter to the lady who originally gave me mine 5 years ago and introduced me to breadmaking. Her starter had died and she was so pleased that I had kept my 'grandma' alive. To think my starter is over 100 years old is mind boggling!
I always say 'use it or lose it'. My friends who shoved their jar in the back of fridge and made the occasional loaf soon forgot to feed their starters. I think a bread as delicious and so good for you such as sourdough deserves to be the staple bread of the household! Hope your bread keeps coming - will you experiment with fruit breads and savoury variations?

Heather's Blog-o-rama said...

Oh, that sourdough bread does look good :) :) :) I've only made white bread in my bread machine ;) :) Oh, yes, fresh hot bread right from the oven is the best...and that nice stick of butter...yummy :) :) :) I'm glad it turned out well...!!! Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)

goatmilker said...

I love sour dough bread! It looks so good. Great job Cindy. Have a good night Rebekah

claudia said...

Dear Cindy,

I love to bake with sourdough as well but I have never found a healthy ( meaning whole grain ) recepie for sourdough bread. Do you mind sharing your recepie? Is it made with at least some percentage of whole grains? I'd love to learn! Claudia

Anonymous said...

I love sourdough bread.

Anna said...

So timely my friend! I was perusing (how do you spell that word?) online last night looking for a starter for bread, yogurt, kefir etc. Looks wonderful! I get to see you soon!!! Love ya!

Diane@Peaceful Acres said...

Good job Cindy! Too bad I'm GF again and my starter just sits. I'll have to keep nursing it so it doesn't go kaplop! Mmmm how I love sourdough bread.

Hot Belly Mama said...

I made sourdough starter not that long ago and I didn't quite like the taste. I kept it alive but it didn't have that taste I love. So I stopped making stuff and it died too. But I want to try again, so I am going to check out that link you shared. Thank you!