The Wonderful World of Sourdough: A Tangy Tale of Taste and Tradition

Have you ever caught a whiff of freshly baked sourdough bread and felt your mouth water instantaneously? If not, you’re missing out on one of life’s simple pleasures. As someone who’s knee-deep in sourdough culture (pun absolutely intended), I’m here to tell you why sourdough is not just a passing fad but a timeless tradition worth embracing.

Let’s start with the basics. Sourdough is more than just a type of bread; it’s a way of life. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but hear me out. The process of creating and maintaining a sourdough starter is like having a tiny, bubbling pet that lives in your kitchen. It needs to be fed, nurtured, and cared for. But unlike a real pet, this one rewards you with delicious bread. And let’s be honest, as much as we love our furry friends, they’ve never made us a sandwich.

Now, you might be wondering, “Why should I bother with sourdough when I can just buy bread at the store?” Well, my friend, sourdough is not only delicious but also good for you. The fermentation process breaks down gluten, making it easier to digest for some people. It also creates beneficial bacteria that can support gut health. So, you’re not just eating bread; you’re eating a probiotic powerhouse. Take that, regular toast!

But the real magic happens when you create your own sourdough starter. And here’s a little secret: you can make it with apple peels. That’s right, those bits you usually toss in the compost can be the beginning of your sourdough journey. It’s like turning trash into edible treasure. Just mix some flour, water, and chopped apple peels in a jar, and let nature do its thing. In a few days, you’ll have a bubbly, active starter ready to transform into crusty, tangy loaves of bread. (see full instructions below)

Speaking of transformation, let’s talk about the sourdough discard. This is the part of the starter you remove when feeding it, and it’s a goldmine of

culinary possibilities. Pancakes, waffles, crackers, pizza dough – the list goes on. Using the discard means less waste and more taste. It’s like the sourdough version of “waste not, want not,” except in this case, it’s “discard not, delicious hot.”  Many people swear  that the cookies and waffles and other goodies that are made with the discard are the best they’ve ever tasted!

Now, I have to brag a little. I’m the proud parent of an Alaskan sourdough starter. After reading a book about the distinguished features of Alaskan sourdough, I couldn’t resist getting my hands on some. It’s like having a little piece of the Last Frontier in my kitchen. Every time I bake with it, I imagine rugged gold miners huddled around a warm stove, waiting for their daily bread. It adds a whole new level of adventure to my baking escapades.

If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably noticed that sourdough is all the rage. It seems like everyone and their grandmother (especially their grandmother) is posting about their sourdough creations. But don’t let that intimidate you. Sourdough isn’t just for the Instagram-savvy or the culinary elite. It’s for anyone who enjoys good food and doesn’t mind getting their hands a little floury.  And contrary to how difficult some of those influencers make it look, it’s not that hard. Sourdough isn’t as persnickety as they make it look.  I have an 8 hour sourdough recipe in my upcoming cookbook for you all to benefit from as well as lots of great discard recipes. Oh, and if you get carried away and make too much sourdough starter, you can just dehydrate it for later.

So, to those of you who haven’t jumped on the sourdough bandwagon yet, I say: what are you waiting for? It’s time to embrace the tangy, crusty, bubbly world of sourdough. Sure, there might be a few failed loaves along the way, but that’s part of the fun. And hey, even if your bread doesn’t turn out picture-perfect, you can always turn it into croutons. Because nothing says “I meant to do that” like artisanal, homemade croutons.

In the end, sourdough is more than just bread. It’s a connection to tradition, a way to nourish your body, and a never-ending science experiment on your kitchen counter. So grab some (organic) flour, find those apple peels, and get ready to join the sourdough revolution. Trust me, your taste buds (and your Instagram followers) will thank you.