Tasty Tuesday

               My homemade vanilla is ready to use, and I hope you got yours made as well. ( did a post on that in Oct.) Also, made my kahlula for gift giving and a bit for my personal needs: baking. So, that only leaves the sourdough starter I need to make so we can have our annual Christmas morning pancakes! I've posted about sourdough before too, but a reminder is always good, so is the bread!  
    Sourdough cookery is different than most bread making, and with a few simple guidelines, you will make your own starter that is needed to bake sourdough bread. You will need a starter pot, always use a glass, ceramic or plastic bowl with plastic or wooden spoons to mix, never metal! You will need to store your starter pot in a warm, dry place and make sure it has a vent hole for gas to escape and room for the yeast to rise. You can bake your bread in a metal pan but don't use metal to store your starter in, it just doesn't mix well with the yeast and may interfere with the sour taste that makes this bread so famous.

Sourdough Starter

2 c. all purpose flour
1 t. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. dry yeast
2 c. lukewarm water
With a wooden spoon, mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl and gradually add lukewarm water. Stir till mixture resembles a smooth paste. Cover with a towel or cheesecloth and set in a warm place to sour. Stir once a day at least, in 3-4 days the starter will be ready to use. Store in a heavy plastic container, with a hole in lid for gas to escape.

Quick Sourdough Bread

2 c. sourdough starter
1 t. dry yeast
3 Tbsp. warm water
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
3 Tbsp. powered milk
2 Tbsp. cooking oil
3-4 c. all purpose flour
Measure out sourdough starter ( replenish starter with equal parts of flour and water). In a small separate bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add to sourdough starter along with sugar, salt, powered milk and oil. Mix well. Slowly add flour till dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead till smooth, add more flour if needed. Shape dough and place in well greased loaf pan. Cover with cloth, set aside in a warm place and allow to rise till doubled in size. Bake at 350 for about 45 min. or till done. Makes 1 loaf.