Sourdough

[Áine]

Has anyone ever made a sourdough starter for bread ?? if so how did you get on and did you manage to keep the starter alive for very long ?

[blue-jay]

I have. It's still going strong and healthy. It's now a little over a year old.

I followed directions I found on the Internet.

I don't remember the details. I added a bit pineapple juice the first few days.

[Áine]

I'm beginning to think that I need to live in a warmer country in order to grow it properly ? 

[bohemian]

Miners in the Klondike used to put it inside their vests to keep it warm!

Once going you can keep it in the refrigerator, so I think you should have a go at starting it this summer.

[Joey]

I've done this several times.

I used this recipe...

10 Day Friendship Bread Recipe

Day 1 - receive the starter (the recipe for the starter is below)

Day 2 - stir

Day 3 - stir

Day 4 - stir

Day 5 - Add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk.

Day 6 - stir

Day 7 - stir

Day 8 - stir

Day 9 - stir

Day 10 - Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Divide into 4 containers, with 1 cup each for three of your friends and 1 cup for your own loaves. Give friends the instructions for Day 1 through Day 10 and the following recipe for baking the bread.

After removing the 3 cups of batter, combine the remaining cup of Friendship Bread starter with the following ingredients in a large bowl:

2/3 cup oil

3 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Using a fork beat by hand until well blended. You can add 1 cup raisins and 1 cup nuts (optional).

Grease two loaf pans with butter, sprinkle with sugar instead of flour.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour (individual oven temperatures vary). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans. Makes two loaves of 10 Day Friendship Bread.

10 Day Friendship Bread Starter

This is the 10 Day Friendship Bread Starter Recipe that youll need to make the Friendship Bread (above). It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.

2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.

3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.

For the next 10 days handle starter according to the instructions above for 10 Day Friendship Bread.

[Joey]

You can freeze each cup of batter for use later rather than give it away.

[Julsey]

I wonder if this can be use with gluten-free flour (e.g., Trader Joe's)? 

[surfergirl]

AnnieBea..If you need a warm area for this ingredient, Do you have an old electric blanket.?

My Hubby use to make his own beer & in the winter he would wrap an electric blanket around the barrel & that would keep the fermentation going for the time needed to keep the yeast cooking so to speak,?