In my sourdough era……
I’ve seen the memes poking fun at those of us home baking sourdough bread, and all I have to say to that is don’t knock it till you try it. I wanted to try making sourdough bread but found the whole “starter” concept very intimidating. I followed a facebook group for beginner sourdough bakers and saw one failed attempt after another. I talked to a few friends who had tried and had ultimately “ killed “ their starter. So I shelved the idea until one Saturday I came across a local microbaker in Denver that was offering classes in her home. Someone had just cancelled their spot in class because they were sick, so I scooped that spot up and the very next morning I found myself at Bodhi Tree Bakery where myself along with 9 other women learned the ART of making sourdough bread from Taylor Tierney…. the queen of Denver sourdough! Some of the women and I joked during the class that there was absolutely no way we were going to be successful at this…taking notes, mixing starter and autolyse, attempting stretch and folds. It still seemed like a lot of information, but when I left that day I was armed with a ball of dough mid bulk fermentation and a jar of Taylor’s tried and true starter “ francois”.
The next day I baked my first loaf and much to my surprise it came out great….so I fed my starter and started the process again….this time completely on my own. It seemed that each loaf was better than the last and before long I was adding things to my dough…. jalepeno cheddar is a favorite! Making cookies and scones out of the sourdough discard. Sourdough pizza crust, cinnamon raisin bread, and the list goes on.
The bread is obviously delicious and there are a number of healthy benefits that come with sourdough. The fermentation process breaks down complex carbohydrates and gluten so its easier to digest for many people. It has a lower glycemic index, its made without preservatives, has beneficial bacteria to support gut health, among many other nutritional benefits. I havent even bought any bread since I started baking my own sourdough. Interestingly enough all those benefits arent even the real reason why I keep baking. There is something incredibly rewarding about the care and time that goes into creating something. Feeding my starter each day, planning what I’ll make and making sure that my starter will be ready at the right time. Just preparing the dough is a process with several steps and a lot of fun to go through. It quickly became a hobby for me, something that I look forward to doing and the fact that I can share what I bake with the people that I care about is a huge benefit.
Often times we get so caught up in the mundane tasks, doing things that are quick and convenient, and just rushing to get things done. I found a creative outlet in sourdough baking and have found great joy in the challenge and the process. A new hobby for me and a chance to slow down and create. So until further notice I’ll be in my soudough era….. and if you havent tried it, I urge you to give it a go. Its not nearly as complicated as I once thought it would be and a very rewarding “self care” activity for me.
