Starting with Sourdough

My morning begins with sourdough, what better way? Some theories about sourdough is that it’s very time consuming, it isn’t, it just takes a little forward thinking. I love that it isn’t immediate, it takes its time, using nothing but nature. I take the precious starter from the fridge, add some to my flour, with a scattering of salt and warm water. Then the mixing, I use a lovely Kenwood with a dough hook but my son likes to kneed his by hand. Within 5 minutes, the dough is in a bowl, covered lightly, snuggled somewhere out of a draft with a little warmth if possible. I top up my starter, then leave the jar open for the day so that the natural yeast in the air can encourage growth.  Before bed, I knock the air out of the dough and place it, covered in the fridge.  I close the lid on my starter and put it alongside. Next morning, as in Groundhog Day, it all begins again. The loaf is baked, delicious aroma filling the house, the new dough is created, the starter is topped up….and so it goes on. Worth every minute.