In my first post I promised you failures. I am somewhat less than delighted to be able to fulfill that promise already, and yet, here we are.
I first started making sourdough bread this summer. I got a giant book with various bread recipes from Costco, and one chapter went over how to make your own sourdough bread, starting by making your own “wild” sourdough starter.
I was intrigued. I knew sourdough was supposed to be tricky, but I’ve always been very good at following directions, so I decided to give it a shot.
I filled a jar with the requisite amount of flour and water, “fed” it regularly, and soon enough it was bubbling up just as the book said it should!
My first loaf turned out beautifully, and I was convinced I was already a sourdough master.
I was wrong.
I’ve made maybe a dozen loaves since then, and my attempts have been very hit or miss. Some days I get beautifully risen, round loafs like the first one, other days my dough prefers to expand horizontally, rather than vertically.
Today was a horizontal sort of day. I knew something was up when after hours and hours the dough was still only bubbly, not risen, but I baked it anyway, just in case.
Whelp. Maybe it will still taste okay.