Summer Love and Sourdough Bread
A fellow blogger wrote once that no apologies are to be made when long absences take place in blogging and instead to simply write..! And so I do.
Two dear friends of mine are back in town for the summer. The sourdough starter Celia kindly sent me all the way from Australia, I have left in a plastic container at the back of the fridge, un fed and neglected for three months. Beast the bread yeast, I am delighted to discover is actually still alive!. I skimmed off the dark lurking liquid from top and started feeding it a couple of nights back with bread flour and bottled water. In the morning we added another feed and the bubbling had started. The high temperatures were contributing to that. After 48 hours of discarding and feeding with flour and water, it was starting to get ready for use. After some research I have found out that to achieve a less acidic and sweeter starter I would need to keep feeding and discarding parts of it for a week!
Another bread enthusiast friend of mine has kindly offered to give me some heritage flour to add to my Bob Mill bread flour. Because I want to share three loaves around, I have decided to bake three one-kilo loaves to spread around the love of Beast.
Few months back my friend Kathy had also started her sourdough baking from Celia’s starter and I have to say Kathy has been very regular in her feeds and her yeast has been named “Um Eish” which translated to the mother of bread !!
Kathy’s Bread. First time trial at Sourdough
My dear friend Nadine pictured next to her loaf, cooling and hung from garden wall.
I sill have a long way to go in terms of achieving a more uniformed bread with less acidity from the starter leaven. But like anything in life learning comes in stages and the process requires the hand of time.
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Glenda
August 18, 2017
Congratulations., Lara. It is the doing that is the important part. I am sure it tastes great.
Nadine
September 6, 2017
Your loaf was an absolute delight, Lara. Tons of gratitude to you.
The morning after, I breakfasted on two pieces, one thin slice, slightly toasted on one side, plain. Loved biting into the sourdough and finding the walnuts – a welcome surprise. The second, a thicker slice toasted on both sides, keeping it soft in the middle, with a spread of zaatar, olive oil, honey mix. That continued to be breakfast for the next couple of days, with a fresh brew of wild thyme tea from Yemen.
The rest of your loaf was heartily indulged in with a variety of bruschetta experiments: chopped tomato with garlic, drenched in olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
Makdoos bruschetta: thick slices with a chopped up makdooseh spread on top – this is my favourite, the sourdough flavour and texture = perfection with the makdoos experience.
And sardine bruschetta: thin, well toasted slices with sardines, topped with pieces of lemon with the peel, fine hot pepper, drenched in olive oil.
What a treat this loaf has been! Thank you.
Lara
September 6, 2017
Thank you my dear friend for your generous illustrious mouth watering feed back. Brings me happiness to know you were satisfied with my bread- your makdous toast sounds particularly appealing!! Xxx more to come ye way in future
sam
September 18, 2017
Amazing blog, Keep up the good work. Thanks