Baking

I have always loved sourdough bread and if/when there is an option for it, I would get it. I loved the smell and the tangy taste. It was a must have pairing with my clam chowder and most any soup.

It was January 2022 and I started looking into how to start your own sourdough starter/levin. It was a long process… it was going to take days and it seemed daunting. It was a new year, so I decided to jump in and try it.

I went out and bought the jumbo quintessential mason jar, so it would be “farm house cute.” I read multiple blog posts from Pinterest and finally settled on the recipe in the tried and true, Joy of Cooking cookbook. This was a simple combination of all purpose flour, water and yeast.

After a several days of discard, feed and repeat I deemed it ready.

I followed the recipe to a T, not wanting to goof this up. There was a lot of anticipation from everyone in the house.

As the two loves baked over the next 45 minutes or so, the smell in the house was intoxicating. I kept looking at them through the oven glass. I couldn’t wait for them to finish.

I was so tickled when the timer went off. I took the loaves out of the oven. They looked amazing… I was so proud!

I had timed the baking with dinner so we could have warm fresh baked sourdough bread with our lasagna that evening.

Everything went on the table, we prayed and we dug in… it was smiles all around and, “may I have more?” sang from the family’s mouths. I couldn’t have been happier.

That was beginners luck… My next few loaves seemed to be flops and it took me about three months until I seemed to have finally perfected my recipe.

It still doesn’t come out looking perfect every time, but every time it’s yummy!