My first batch of sourdough bagels came out of the boiling pot looking right and baked up like dense little bread rolls with a hole in the middle — no chew, no shine, no bakery snap. It took me a dozen batches to figure out that bagels are not just shaped sourdough; the dough itself … Read more
The first time I added fruit to sourdough, I threw a handful of fresh blueberries into the dough during bulk fermentation. The result was a loaf with purple streaks, soggy pockets where berries had burst, and a crumb so wet…
This seed loaf is exactly what it sounds like — a hearty, rustic sourdough bread packed with an abundance of seeds in every single slice. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax, and sesame come together to create a loaf that goes far beyond ordinary sourdough. The result is a nutty, deeply complex flavor with an incredible … Read more
It was 7 a.m. on a Saturday when my neighbor Linda rang my doorbell holding an empty bread bag and what I can only describe as desperate eyes. I had given her a loaf of my sourdough cinnamon raisin bread three days earlier as a “sorry my dog dug up your tulips” peace offering, and … Read more
I want to tell you about the time I confidently handed my neighbor a loaf of bread and watched her take one polite bite before quietly feeding the rest to her dog. The loaf in question was my fourth attempt at a 100% whole wheat sourdough, and it had the texture of a slightly damp … Read more
I still remember staring at what was supposed to be a beautiful, rustic loaf sitting on my cooling rack and thinking, “I could use this thing as a doorstop.” It was dense, gummy in the middle, and about two inches tall. I had spent three days nursing my starter, carefully measured every gram, followed a … Read more
I want to tell you about the morning I proudly sliced into what I was absolutely certain was my best loaf yet, only to watch the entire thing collapse sideways like a soggy accordion. My husband was standing right there. He tried so hard not to laugh. He failed. What I bake with: The cover … Read more
I still remember standing at my kitchen counter at 7 a.m. on a Saturday, staring into my Dutch oven like I had personally offended it. I had stayed up late the night before, carefully shaped what I was convinced would finally be my best loaf ever. I had a strong starter, good flour, perfect timing. … Read more
I want to tell you about the time I confidently handed my neighbor a loaf of what I called my “best sourdough yet” — only to watch her slice into it and find a raw, gummy, completely unbaked center. She was very polite about it. I was not very calm about it. That loaf went … Read more
Introduction: Your Sourdough is a Blank Canvas Are you a sourdough baker stuck in a flavor rut? Have you perfected your crumb and ear, but find yourself churning out the same classic loaves week after week? While there’s nothing wrong with a stellar Cranberry Walnut or a crowd-pleasing Jalapeño Cheddar, your sourdough starter is capable … Read more
