Bread-Bakers v109.n030.8

Hi Cindy,

What did people do before they could buy yeast in stores? Luckily for 
us, yeast is everywhere, including on the outer surfaces of wheat 
kernels. So, just grind up wheat, add water, wait, and *something* 
starts to happen.

If one is a bit diligent one can turn this "accident" into a 
controlled effect, i.e., creating a sourdough culture starter. That's 
still how we start them today: just add water to flour.

Furthermore, historically beer making and bread making existed in a 
symbiotic relationship. Bread makers would use a byproduct of brewing 
rich in yeast as an additive to dough. I'm pretty sure this sharing 
went all the way back to Egyptian times, if not earlier.

Can somebody more knowledgeable else chime in here?

Allen
SHB
San Francisco