It was May 2020. We were 3 months into Covid. The work-from-home routine was already getting old. Making your own sourdough bread was becoming such a popular thing that all the grocery stores were running out of flour. And every day was feeling like groundhog day.
I needed a hobby. So I decided to jump onboard the sourdough bus.
With the help of an experienced baker friend, I made my own starter and a week later, I was making my first batch of bread.
That first batch was a bit rough around the edges, but 18 months and over 100 loaves later, I'm feeling much better about things.
Sourdough starter all fed and watered
Freshly baked out of the oven
My favorite design
Six pack of sourdough
I have to admit, when I first heard about the steps involved, read the articles, and watched the videos, I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the time. It sounded like too much.
The process quickly became routine though and it's great having fresh bread in the house. I honestly can't imagine going back to storebought bread.
And it makes for great gifts! In the midst of Covid 2020, I hand-delivered 10 loaves of bread to the members of my design team scattered across Austin, TX. Having hired them remotely during Covid, it was the first time I had actually met them in person!
You can read my step-by-step instructions on Google Docs if you want to give it a try. Have fun!!
Wheat sheafs
Mini-loaves
Great gifts