Confessions of a Clumsy Scot

About a year ago, I was seeing everyone’s sourdough baking on Instagram and Facebook. I love baking myself and my first thought was, ‘How hard can it be?’

Oh I was so very wrong.

Attempt one, after some research, I threw 50g of the first bag of flour I came across in my cupboard into a jar, with 50g of water. I repeated this for five days before very visible mould appeared on top.

Chucked it and started again.

The same thing, with an almost identical timeline happened another three times.

Four attempts, and four weeks later I gave up.

Maybe six months later I thought I’ll give it one last shot, where was the harm. This time I managed 12 days before mould appeared but absolutely no movement in it beforehand so I’d already moreorless given up before the mould appeared anyway.

Decided at that point, sourdough wasn’t for me and continued making my sandwich loaves which I loved but I felt seemed quite heavy and dense.

Fast forward to a month ago, I was searching some ready starters I could buy and wanted a better jar to go with it. So bought the kit which came with a fabulous little spatula, a jar with a crew on lid and a little shower cap, a banneton and various other little pieces. I thought Ill give the starter one more try before I buy one.

The package arrived, I cleaned it, and immediately threw 30g of bread flour and 30g of water into the jar, popped the little shower cap onto it and repeated this for a week.

I did it! She was doubling in size and bubbling away perfectly!

I then had to find a recipe for bread to bake without a Dutch oven! I found one that seemed beginnet friendly and started.

Might I add, I did not realise one loaf took so long before I could bake it which all the stretch and folds and proofing!

I followed my recipe to the gram. But honestly when I took her out of the fridge and shaped her, I didn’t have high hopes. She was very flat and wouldnt hold shape. I keep seeing on a Facebook group though, when in doubt bake it anyway and that I did.

And she actually came out amazing!

Loaf one, of many many more to come!