My Sourdough Baby

Motherhood is a painful experience, isn't it? You create your baby with loving care! You raise that child until (s)he can touch the stars. And then, when they reach adulthood, you bake them into a delicious loaf of bread and save a bit of them in a jar, to grow a new child.

Oh. Did you not have the same experience?

You can probably tell I'm not talking about a human child. (Unless you know me really well). I'm referring to a yeast baby, or sourdough starter! Sit right back in your chair; this is very exciting.

Essentially, a sourdough starter is an environment for wild yeasts to grow in! Usually, you can get a strain of standardized yeast from the store. Or, you know, buy a loaf of bread. But sourdough tastes so good, and everything is better homemade.

Of course, I'm going to take you on my journey of yeast.

It started last week. I said to my friend "What recipe should I try next?" I made the mistake of asking somebody who knows stuff about food. He had all sorts of wild ideas, and I didn't want to disappoint. After a long, arduous search for a particular type of bread he once ate in a foreign country, we found the equivalent recipe. Sourdough!

So I mixed a starter. It's the second time I've actually tried, and the first time it's lived. Annnnd I haven't technically used it yet, so you can journey with me!

Find a glass jar with a lid. Make sure it doesn't smell weird; I almost used a pickle jar. Gag.

Find a clean washcloth, or cheesecloth.

Take about half a cup flour and as much pineapple juice. If you don't have pineapple juice, use water mixed with a couple teaspoons of sugar.

Mix. Leave it open to the air for a bit.

Put the washcloth across the jarmouth, and the lid loosely on top.

Put it in a warm, dry corner. For the next three to four days, "feed" the starter with a bit of flour and water. If your jar starts to get full, pour out half the starter before its feeding.

When it gets bubbles, (A LOT of bubbles), and a nice, beery smell, you're done with step one! That's where I'm stuck right now. I haven't had the chance to make a loaf out of it yet...it's so vexing.

For further, better-detailed information, visit http://www.io.com/~sjohn/sour.htm

Sourdough can live forever. I've heard tell of one strain being kept alive for over a hundred years.

More recipes to follow! Podcast soon to be updated. Look for it.