Sourdough

Alan, "I'm so glad you discovered Sourdough because it's really good!"

Seriously- he said that. Unprompted.
And it's true!

Sourdough is my newest kitchen pet that I've had the last several months. (I call it a pet because you have to feed it and water it so you don't kill it. It's alive! It's my pet:)

I had thought about sourdough for a long time, but was super intimidated by it. I'm not sure why- especially after having used it the last several months- it really is easy. Here's a good post debunking all your sourdough misconceptions.

When I mention to people I've been using sourdough- they ask if I make bread with it. No (and yes). Bread was the last thing I made with my starter- mainly to try it out and since everyone kept asking if I made bread with it. The bread is good and fine (but my bread heart belongs here) but there are so many other things to make with sourdough. Pizza dough, waffles, pancakes, tortillas, crackers, English muffins, cake, cup cakes, banana bread- so.many.options. That's why I love it and use it.

Grace had a hard time understanding sourdough at first. She would ask things like, "Mom, can you make sourdough salad?" Um- no. So here's what I told her in a nutshell. Sourdough is more of a grain.When the grain grows on the plants, it has stuff on it to naturally preserve it (phytates). Like how we store wheat- it will last a long time. It's a good thing! But when we put that in your body- your body doesn't quite know what to do with it. It could make your tummy hurt and you can't get the vitamins in your food (the phytates bind up the vitamins and minerals in your food so your body can't absorb them) So we have to prepare the grains properly so our body can use all the good things in the grains. That's what sourdough does- prepares the grains properly. (Soaking or sprouting does this too) Did she get it? I don't know. But Alan did:)


I saw this sourdough e course that looks good and I considered signing up for it- but when push came to shove, I decided to use my vast expendable income in another way. So if you end up taking it- let me know how it is!

I ordered the Alaskan Sourdough starter from Cultures for health. (Actually, I think I ordered the same thing off Amazon to get free shipping...) It took about a week to feed it and have it alive and well. I feed it wheat or spelt flour.

If sourdough is something you are interested in and you live by me- I'll give you 1/2 c. of starter and directions for $4. (I know- so expensive. Covers my cost to feed it and also covers the psychological side of "I paid for this so I better take care of it." I think if you are monetarily invested you more likely to succeed:) You can find tons of recipes online.

Be brave and give sourdough a try!