Sourdough

Bread Challenge Week 24

When we visit San Francisco a couple of years ago, the smell of sourdough bread frequently stopped me in my tracks as we walked the streets. I love good sourdough bread. Everyone does right? For this weeks bread challenge I tried my hand at making sourdough. I followed the Sourdough and Sourdough Starter recipes in my Betty Crocker’s Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today.

First of all I am not very patient when it comes to bread. The longest I have ever had to wait on bread before was over night and that felt like too long. So making the starter and having to wait four days before even starting the actual kneading and rising process was a little trying for my walnut sized brain.

I love the smell of yeast. I guess the upside to having that starter sitting on my counter for four days was the lovely smell of yeast that filled my kitchen. Hands on time the bread took less than a half hour, with rising and baking it takes a little over 2 hours, not counting the time to make the starter which if you maintain it and keep it going you really only have to do once to have fresh sourdough bread every week.

I made two loaves, one in a round and one as a baugette. We finished off one loaf and put the other in the freezer for another time. The recipe was fairly easy to follow and included regular household ingredients.

I really planned on loving this bread. I really did. Unfortunately I just wasn’t that impressed. It was fine, it just wasn’t great. It didn’t have that perfect chewy texture that good sour dough breads have. The bread was dry and not nearly sour enough. Like I said it was fine, but not good enough to make again. From now on if I want sourdough I’ll just buy it.

Flavor: 3
Hands on time: 4
Total time: 1
Recipe: 5
versatility: 3
make it again: 2
Catherine: 1
Luke: 1
Maddy: 1

Total Score: 21
(what is this Bread Challenge and how are recipes scored?)

Previous Bread Challenge reviews:
Tortillas – Week 23
Honey Wheat Hamburger Buns – Week 22
Garlic Studded Baguette – Week 21
Quinoa Bread – Week 20
Asiago Herb and Garlic Bread – Week 19
Cranberry Pecan Rye Bread – Week 18
Rotis – Whole Wheat Unleavened Bread- Week 17
Farmhouse White Loaf – Week 16
Honey Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread – Week 15
The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake – Week 14
Hot Cross Buns – Week 13
100% Whole Wheat Bread – Week 12
Thin Wheat Crackers – Week 11
Irish Soda Bread – Week 10
Double Blueberry Muffins – Week 9
Oatmeal Batter Bread – Week 8
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls – Week 7
Cheesy Pretzels – Week 6
Light Rye Bread – Week 5
Country-Style Whole-Wheat Pita – Week 4
Carrot Raisin Quick Bread – Week 3
Potato Bread – Week 2
Focaccia – Week 1