Sourdough (Wild Yeast) Baking

[Galley_Wench]

Welcome to the 'Wild' side of baking. Just posted my first recipe, and favorite recipe . . . San Francisco Sourdough Bread. The method used is a little different so please let me know if you have any questions.

[Galley_Wench]

This is day two of bread baking . . . yesterday I made the Mother Starter, today I made the bread dough which is now in the refrigerator doing a slow rise. Tomorrow will be baking day number one.

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/san-fr ... ough-bread

This particular recipe uses a unique folding technique to strengthen the gluten strands. Here's a couple photos, hope this helps to understand my instructions.



This is the first fold . . . notice how wet the dough is. It's so wet that you oil your hands and the board before starting. The dough is folded from the bottom towards the center, and then from the top to the center . . . like folding a letter.



Now you pull the dough from each side and fold it like a letter.



Now the dough is allowed to rest for 10 minutes.



Then repeat the folding process.

Cover the dough this time and allow to rest another 10 minutes and repeat the folding process one last time.



Notice how smooth the dough is after the 3 fold!

[Galley_Wench]

wil

[racrgal]

Those loaves are positively gorgeous. I am going to make this bread as soon as my starter arrives!!!!

[Galley_Wench]

What you are getting in the mail are the flakes . . . you'll need to reconstitute them. Here's the link to the instructions http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/sourdo ... ter-flakes.

Do you have a Kitchen Air or will you be doing it by hand?

[racrgal]

Instructions printed. I do have a KitchenAid but have never used it to make any type of bread. Also I don't have a glass bowl that fits the KA. I just noticed "never use metal bowls". Maybe I should ask for a glass KA bowl for Christmas?!?!?

[Galley_Wench]

Good catch . . . ! It's ok to mix in the bowl, just take it out afterwards and put in a glass bowl! Gee, this is going to be fun! I'm here, just let me know when you have a question

[racrgal]

Fun for YOU to laugh at ME! You're at a high altitude so if something works for you, it should work for me. You wouldn't believe how frustrated I got with Artisan bread.

I'm so excited about this darned bread that I have decided I'll probably make Italian food for Christmas Day just to show off the bread. Hope I get the hang of it quickly.

[Galley_Wench]

No I won't laugh . . . you can do it. Italian Christmas sounds like fun! Think we're going to have southwest Christmas have some new recipes I just got to try!

You might want to start with the Sourdough English Muffins . . . that way the starter will improve in flavor (happens with use). They're simple and can be done on the stove top. I use to make on the boat.

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/sourdo ... sh-muffins

Also have a recipe for sourdough pancakes
http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/sourdough-pancakes

I'll post the recipe for the easiest of the SFO bread recipes . . . easiest because it doesn't take 3 days. Will get it done today, it's still over on food.crap.

However
This is the recipe I use the most now. It's a little more complicated because it's a three day process to just get the dough. http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/san-fr ... ough-bread

1. First you refresh your starter (over night)
2. Then you make a thicker starter (called Mother Starter) (24 hour fermentation)
3. Then you use some of it to mix in with the bread dough (another 24 hours)
4. Now you have enough dough to make three loaves (which can be spread out over 3
days)

[racrgal]

The English muffins look AWESOME!!!! I have been considering getting a Cuisinart Griddler. Might be the perfect excuse. lol

This sourdough thing is going to be quite the adventure. You might have created a monster and I might make a mess. It will be fun either way.