Sourdough Starter

First we have to make our sourdough starter. This is the leaven that will make our dough rise through the addition of wild yeast and the lactobacillus that will naturally grow as the starter ripens. I make my starter a week before I actually want to bake the bread. You will continue to "feed" the starter everyday for a week, and every other day after that to maintain it, and it will last for as long as you want it to.

SOURDOUGH STARTER

INGREDIENTS

1 cup organic unbleached flour
1 cup filtered water at room temp

INSTRUCTIONS

I use a 1 qt mason jar for my starter and I use my hands to incorporate the flour into the water.

Let it sit covered by plastic wrap in a cupboard and feed it everyday at the same time. To feed, discard half of the starter, and add 1⁄4 cup flour plus 1⁄4 cup filtered water everyday for the next 7 days. It should get bubbly and grow each time you feed, then settle down by the next feeding. Note: your starter should smell fermented but not rotten.

Ok so after a week your starter is ready! Now it's time to make some sourdough.

**CHEAT**

If you want to skip making your own from scratch. I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a starter from The Southern Sourdough Co. It comes with 5-6 day step by step instruction for starting your sourdough starter and then maintaining your starter.