It’s QuaranSpring, so what is everyone doing?  Making BREAD of course!  I have been sharing my starter with friends, and experimenting a lot, so here is my Sourdough bread recipe!

Homemade Sourdough Bread

1 c Sourdough Starter
1.5 t active yeast
3/4 c warm water
2 T brown sugar
1-2 T salt
3-4 c flour

Measure out the warm (not hot water) in a cup and stir in the active yeast and brown sugar.  Set aside for 5 minutes or so until the top is foamy.

Attach the bread hook to your mixer.  Put sourdough starter in your mixing bowl and add salt.  Slowly add 2 c flour, mixing slowly.  Then, once your active yeast is ready, pour into the bowl.  Add the rest of the flour, 1/2 c at a time, until the consistency is right. you want it to be thick, but more like pudding than cookie dough.

Put your mixer on medium low speed, and let it knead the dough for 5-10 minutes, until the bumps have completely worked out of your dough and it is smooth and flexible.  The dough should climb your hook into one big ball.  Once you have reached this stage, grease your bowl put the dough in a ball in the center and cover with a towel.  Let it rise for 1-2 hours on the kitchen countertop.  Line a dutch oven with parchment paper for later.

After your dough has risen, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Once it has doubled in size, punch it down.  Add any mix ins*, fold over again several time to form a ball.  Bake, covered for one hour, if you want a darker brown crust, remove the lid for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Eat with copious amounts of butter.

*Mix Ins I have tried:

• Roasted Garlic, Ground Pepper, and Chopped Fresh Rosemary
• One apple, peeled and chopped, 1/2 brown sugar, and 2 T cinnamon
• 10 Jalapeno slices, chopped fine, and 3/4 c shredded cheddar.  If you want it milder, substitute canned green chiles