Sourdough, weeks one and two
The good thing about taking pictures of my first attempt at sourdough bread and then failing to blog about it for a week is that now I can show you the first two attempts at sourdough bread instead, since I gave it another go today.
Last week’s sourdough:
This was the first time using my newly established starter. I wasn’t expecting much from it, to be honest, and was very pleasantly surprised. It had a really nice, truly sour sourdough tang. The rise was okay, but not great. The resulting bread was dense, but not abnormally so, and it was more than edible. Quite good, actually.
This week’s sourdough:
I hoped the rise would improve as the starter aged, and already it is way better this week. That may have more to do with my method than the maturation of the starter, though. Last week I let the loaves rise for two hours, per the instructions in Tassajara. This week I let them rise for three hours. The result? Delicious and nicely risen. I’m extremely happy with the bread this week.
Sourdough bread is so much less time-consuming to make than the yeast breads I’ve been making! Mix the ingredients for the sponge and let it sit overnight. Fold in the rest of the ingredients, knead for a scant five minutes. Shape and let rise. Bake. That’s it. Easy enough that I don’t have to wait for Thumper’s nap to do it! I predict lots of homemade bread in this family’s future.
Next I want to establish rye and whole wheat starters…
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Mmm! I’ve been making whole-wheat sandwich breads for our house for a few months now. I tried a sourdough starter years ago, but was told that our ambient bacteria wasn’t going to cut it. It wasn’t great, and I didn’t try again. The ease of baking may bring me back to try again though.
I just was lent a book on bread making yesterday and it was my before bed reading… isn’t there something so satisfying about making your own bread? Let us know how the whole wheat and rye starters go, (and as an aside, I LOVE the King Arthur’s white whole wheat flour).
Posted by: Johanna
I make bread every couple of days but because I can’t knead any more (rheumatoid arthritis) I use the bread machine to do it for me. When you get a good starter for rye, I’d be very interested in knowing it…ciao and happy eating.
Posted by: rositta
Beautiful!! I’d love to do a starter – c’mon, we live near the Gold Country in California. We’ve GOT to have good yeast in the air!
I baked bread today; I had a new little friend here for the day, and he was ASTONISHED by the whole ‘bread rising’ thing. When I took it out and punched it down for a second rise, his eyes were THIS BIG! Sooooooo cute. Having been raised on the homemade stuff my own kids are all “eh, whatever” about the process, it was fun to have a “muggle kid” in the house for the magic. 🙂
Posted by: Mother Chaos
you have inspired me to start on the sourdough adventure! I love home made bread, I used to make all our bread, but got out of the habit, not sure why, but its just so much better than what you buy at the shop, and satisfying too! Good work!
Posted by: Sharon
Very nice – I like dense breads – I don’t know why. Maybe I should do this – DH’s insomnia woke me up at 2:30am this morning…
Posted by: Jo
This is not related to your bread (which looks tasty), but if you have not already found this site, I think you might like yougrowgirl.com. Good luck with your garden.
Posted by: Katie
Mmm! I’ve been making whole-wheat sandwich breads for our house for a few months now. I tried a sourdough starter years ago, but was told that our ambient bacteria wasn’t going to cut it. It wasn’t great, and I didn’t try again. The ease of baking may bring me back to try again though.
I just was lent a book on bread making yesterday and it was my before bed reading… isn’t there something so satisfying about making your own bread? Let us know how the whole wheat and rye starters go, (and as an aside, I LOVE the King Arthur’s white whole wheat flour).
Posted by: Johanna
I make bread every couple of days but because I can’t knead any more (rheumatoid arthritis) I use the bread machine to do it for me. When you get a good starter for rye, I’d be very interested in knowing it…ciao and happy eating.
Posted by: rositta
Beautiful!! I’d love to do a starter – c’mon, we live near the Gold Country in California. We’ve GOT to have good yeast in the air!
I baked bread today; I had a new little friend here for the day, and he was ASTONISHED by the whole ‘bread rising’ thing. When I took it out and punched it down for a second rise, his eyes were THIS BIG! Sooooooo cute. Having been raised on the homemade stuff my own kids are all “eh, whatever” about the process, it was fun to have a “muggle kid” in the house for the magic. 🙂
Posted by: Mother Chaos
you have inspired me to start on the sourdough adventure! I love home made bread, I used to make all our bread, but got out of the habit, not sure why, but its just so much better than what you buy at the shop, and satisfying too! Good work!
Posted by: Sharon
Very nice – I like dense breads – I don’t know why. Maybe I should do this – DH’s insomnia woke me up at 2:30am this morning…
Posted by: Jo
This is not related to your bread (which looks tasty), but if you have not already found this site, I think you might like yougrowgirl.com. Good luck with your garden.
Posted by: Katie
My sourdough rises better every time and I’m baking twice a week. I am amazed at how quickly it improves! Congratulations on baking some beautiful bread!
Posted by: Kathy
That looks delicious! I really need to learn how to make bread. It just sounds so intimidating, but why not try it.
Posted by: Ginny
Mmmm, lovely home made bread. I used to bake bread all the time but never sourdough (I’m the only one in my family who likes it). Now I’m inspired to start baking again.
Posted by: sheila
Looks yummy! I just got the Tassajara cookbook (though not the classic baking book) out of the library, and all of their suggestions seem right on.
Posted by: Hanna
mmmmm, please please please bring some tomorrow night!! 🙂
looks soooo good. man, i need breakfast!
Posted by: shanny in oregon
My sourdough rises better every time and I’m baking twice a week. I am amazed at how quickly it improves! Congratulations on baking some beautiful bread!
Posted by: Kathy
That looks delicious! I really need to learn how to make bread. It just sounds so intimidating, but why not try it.
Posted by: Ginny
Mmmm, lovely home made bread. I used to bake bread all the time but never sourdough (I’m the only one in my family who likes it). Now I’m inspired to start baking again.
Posted by: sheila
Looks yummy! I just got the Tassajara cookbook (though not the classic baking book) out of the library, and all of their suggestions seem right on.
Posted by: Hanna
mmmmm, please please please bring some tomorrow night!! 🙂
looks soooo good. man, i need breakfast!
Posted by: shanny in oregon
I found using half whole wheat and half white flour made the transition easier.
Posted by: LaurieM
OMG that looks soo good…..I took a stab at sour dough starter, when my middle was 2 months old….not the right time by anymeans…..I would love the recipe for the bread and the starter if you can pass it on……mine was not right…..and I have seen where you can buy dehydrated starter but am not all that sure I want to go that route either.
Posted by: Heather
Long ago, shortly after I first got married, we moved out of Toronto to a small city in Eastern Ontario with the intentions of starting a family (which we eventually did). When we moved away, I started to bake bread (using the Tassajara bread book, by the way) and I baked bread every week and never bought a loaf of bread for the next 3 years. (I was freelance editing at the time for my old employer). When I went to work (first for yarn money – then for regular budget money) the breadmaking dropped off. I am reliving it all vicariously through your blog and loving it. I only make bread now very occasionally, but still love to knead the bread and smell the yeast…good luck with it and keep posting…yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Posted by: Julia in KW
Hi Cari!
Your bread looks great. Charlie and I are experimenting with yeast breads in Houston (yes, we finally made it, sorry that I never emailed you back!). I used to think that I couldn’t bake bread, but the more I do, the easier it is. I love the idea of being one of those moms who bakes bread for the family.
I have a great recipe that I’m using from Marion Cunningham’s Breakfast book for dairy bread if you would like the recipe.
Posted by: Jodi
I don’t know what it is with me, but I can never make bread work well. I’m so envious!
Posted by: Paula
I found using half whole wheat and half white flour made the transition easier.
Posted by: LaurieM
OMG that looks soo good…..I took a stab at sour dough starter, when my middle was 2 months old….not the right time by anymeans…..I would love the recipe for the bread and the starter if you can pass it on……mine was not right…..and I have seen where you can buy dehydrated starter but am not all that sure I want to go that route either.
Posted by: Heather
Long ago, shortly after I first got married, we moved out of Toronto to a small city in Eastern Ontario with the intentions of starting a family (which we eventually did). When we moved away, I started to bake bread (using the Tassajara bread book, by the way) and I baked bread every week and never bought a loaf of bread for the next 3 years. (I was freelance editing at the time for my old employer). When I went to work (first for yarn money – then for regular budget money) the breadmaking dropped off. I am reliving it all vicariously through your blog and loving it. I only make bread now very occasionally, but still love to knead the bread and smell the yeast…good luck with it and keep posting…yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Posted by: Julia in KW
Hi Cari!
Your bread looks great. Charlie and I are experimenting with yeast breads in Houston (yes, we finally made it, sorry that I never emailed you back!). I used to think that I couldn’t bake bread, but the more I do, the easier it is. I love the idea of being one of those moms who bakes bread for the family.
I have a great recipe that I’m using from Marion Cunningham’s Breakfast book for dairy bread if you would like the recipe.
Posted by: Jodi
I don’t know what it is with me, but I can never make bread work well. I’m so envious!
Posted by: Paula
I love love love these photos. It’s quite exciting to watch you experimenting with sourdough. I’m wondering whether there’s any reason it wouldn’t work in an apartment. Well, the smell, maybe? Would it be too much in a small space, do you suppose? (I was going to email this question, but then I thought maybe other apartment dwellers are wondering, also)
Posted by: Lizbon
Oooh! That is making me so hungry. I need to go to bed.
Posted by: knittripps
I don’t comment very often, but I really enjoy your blog! I’ve been baking more bread lately, and picked up the Tassajara Bread Book today after hearing about it from your posts. What a great find – thanks!
Posted by: Amy M.
I love love love these photos. It’s quite exciting to watch you experimenting with sourdough. I’m wondering whether there’s any reason it wouldn’t work in an apartment. Well, the smell, maybe? Would it be too much in a small space, do you suppose? (I was going to email this question, but then I thought maybe other apartment dwellers are wondering, also)
Posted by: Lizbon
Oooh! That is making me so hungry. I need to go to bed.
Posted by: knittripps
I don’t comment very often, but I really enjoy your blog! I’ve been baking more bread lately, and picked up the Tassajara Bread Book today after hearing about it from your posts. What a great find – thanks!
Posted by: Amy M.