Introduction to My Baking Journey

During the challenging year of 2020, I found solace in the art of bread making, producing at least six small round loaves every week. My go-to recipes included an Easy White Bread made with fast-active dried yeast and an Easy Brown Bread featuring fresh yeast. However, as the year progressed, I neglected my sourdough starter, eventually disposing of it. This experience taught me that a sourdough starter is remarkably resilient, and surprising as it may seem, can often endure neglect without completely dying.

Despite my initial frustration about wasting flour due to the mandated discarding of excess starter, I soon learned that I could transform this surplus into delicious sourdough pancakes. When there’s ample leftover starter, I whip up delightful Easy Banana Pancakes, perfect for a leisurely weekend breakfast.

Why Sourdough?

As I embarked on a mission to reignite my passion for sourdough, I learned that Elaine Boddy, a cherished member of the Guild of Food Writers, had authored a new book titled Whole Grain Sourdough at Home. Excited by the prospect, I promptly ordered it.

While anticipating its arrival, I began following Elaine’s detailed guidelines on How to Make a Sourdough Starter. In just seven days, I nurtured my starter into a bubbling mass, ready to craft my inaugural loaf of sourdough bread.

Eager to start baking, I explored Elaine’s ‘Super Lazy Sourdough Master’ recipe, which promised a shorter folding and proofing time. The resulting loaf was light, delicately flavored, and a testament to the simplicity of her instructions. Thrilled with the outcome, I found myself once again captivated by the world of sourdough baking.

Types of Sourdough Recipes

Master Sourdough Recipes

Elaine’s cookbook includes three essential master sourdough recipes. Despite beginning their processes at different times, the provided timetables allow you to integrate them seamlessly into your daily routine. What I appreciate most is that sourdough requires minimal hands-on time; most of the work involves letting the dough proof and mature into a magnificent loaf.

Super Lazy Sourdough Master

The ‘Super Lazy Sourdough Master’ was my inaugural choice and is perfect for days when time is limited. The results were impressive, yielding a fantastic loaf from the very first recipe.

Same Day Sourdough Master

For those who wish to enjoy freshly baked bread by dinner time, Elaine meticulously outlines the timings needed to bake a full sourdough loaf by the evening. Simply start by 9:30 AM and you’ll be enjoying your creation by 5 PM!

Review of the Master Sourdough Recipe

On my first attempt at the Master Recipe, I opted for strong white bread flour and later experimented with a blend of whole grains, which I now prefer for all my sourdough endeavors. The versatility and utility of these master recipes make the baking experience smoother and more enjoyable.

What truly stands out in Elaine’s recipes is her clear presentation of starting, folding, and proofing times. These thoughtful suggestions make following her recipes approachable and particularly rewarding.

During my baking journey, I produced a mouthwatering sourdough loaf using whole wheat and Einkorn flour, and the taste was nothing short of outstanding!

Contents and Other Recipes

I have previously baked with whole grains and find their rich flavors incomparable to those of many refined white flours. The recipes in the book extensively utilize whole grain flours as a core ingredient. In her introductory sections, Elaine explains how each ancient grain behaves during the dough’s stretching and pulling processes, providing invaluable insights into baking dynamics.

Some grains yield very sticky doughs, while others maintain their structure much better. This understanding is crucial for achieving the perfect loaf as it informs why various doughs react differently during the pull and fold stages.

The recipe collection in this book is vast, ranging from sourdough boules and focaccia to buttermilk sourdough biscuits, speedy crackers, and a variety of simple loaves. There’s no shortage of delicious options to explore!

Innovative Uses for Sourdough

A few of Elaine’s recipes encourage you to get creative by swapping water for other liquids, such as buttermilk, potato water, or even beer and spent grains. These innovative approaches are something I’m eager to experiment with in future bakes. After all, sourdough bread shines best when paired with high-quality ingredients, such as homemade butter or a drizzle of good olive oil.

Delicious Pairings for Sourdough Bread

Enhance your sourdough experience by using slices to soak up the flavorful juices from dishes like Bulgur Wheat Salad with Cucumber and Carrot, or include it as part of a delightful picnic alongside a Bulgur Wheat Salad featuring Tomatoes and Feta Cheese.

Where to Purchase the Book

You can buy your copy of Whole Grain Sourdough at Home directly from Elaine’s website, Foodbodsourdough.com. This book promises to be an invaluable companion on your sourdough baking journey!