Monday, January 10, 2011

Sourdough starter

I decided to make a sourdough starter.  I watched the video 3 times.  I read the materials.  I was prepared!

Friday evening: I mix the flour and water in a clean jar.  It's a hell of a lot thicker than in the video.  Okay, flour is an agricultural product and is therefore not subject to precise scientific measurements the way water is.  I added more water.  Yep, that looks about right.  Scrape down the sides of the jar, cover with a clean napkin, and set aside for 12 hours.

Saturday morning:  Nothing's happening.  But the video warned that the first 12 hours there would be little activity and it might go unnoticed, particularly by people like me who don't really have experience.  So I didn't worry at all.  I gave it the second feeding.  No problem.

Saturday evening: Still nothing.  Okay, the video said if this happens to just give it a good stir and let it sit for another 12 hours.  It should wake up and be fine by then.

Sunday morning:  Still nothing.  Fine, this one didn't work.  The video also said that sometimes it takes several tries to get a starter started.  I'm a little disappointed, but not terribly devastated.  On the other hand, I am late to drive a gazillion miles to visit my grandparents, so I leave the failed starter on the counter in its jar.  Uncovered, since it's going to be dumped out when I get home.

Sunday evening: I've completely forgotten about the starter.  Life goes on in its Sunday way.  I sit down to watch TV with DF, and get up to make some hot chocolate, and there on the counter is the jar.  And it's full and bubbly and happy and brimming with life.  Wow!  It just needed more time and some good neglect!  This is the kind of project I can totally get into.  I dump half (per the instructions), feed the remainder and cover it and lovingly place it in a safe part of the counter.

Monday morning: I get up to feed the cats.  The starter is sitting on the counter practically shouting "I am alive and I have arrived!  Hey, isn't there anything to eat in this place?  I was just about to go rummaging in the pantry.  Feed me, woman!"  I dumped half and fed the remainder.

I fully expect that when I get home it'll be chasing the cats with the vacuum and watching porno on the computer.

They grow up so fast...

2 comments:

  1. At first I thought this was going to be one of those "My house is so clean there is no bacteria anywhere to create a sourdough starter." ahahahahahah

    Now, I can't wait to see what lovely things you'll make me from this! Let's start with donuts, k?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha! That's so entirely not a problem. ;-)

    Donuts? Don't those take a deep fryer? You can't honestly expect me, in a house with two perpetually underfoot cats, to do anything with a gallon of boiling oil, can you?

    I was thinking pancakes. Possibly raw. Or bread. I have a bread machine, I should just be able to throw in the ingredients and run away, right? Maybe I should have the bomb squad standing by, just in case...

    ReplyDelete