Just wanted to drop a note into the archives about sourdough
starters. I know there's been a lot of discussion and advice over the
years, much of it from experts.
Over the last couple of years I've struggled to create a
nicely-flavored starter from flour and water. about 95% of the time I
don't get any leavening acitvity in the mixture at all. a couple of
times I have gotten a good active batch, but didn't like the flavor.
in desperation, I decided to try the dried starter from "Friends of
Carl" (carlsfriends.net). I just wanted to let you all know, those of
you who would like a nice starter but don't want to (or can't, like
me) get a good working starter using "natural" yeasts (i.e., mix
flour & water and let them sit til bubbly) that Carl's has a lovely,
complex flavor, and while it is definitely sour, the sour isn't the
only or even a primary part of the flavor.
I've tried a couple of the recipes from Carl's web site and they're
wonderful, especially the "alaskan sourdough". I note that some of
the recipes call for a little baking soda. I assume that's not for
leavening but to neutralize some of the acid. Whatever it does, I
always end up with a wonderful, flavorful bread.
last week I also tried the sourdough french bread recipe from the
original (1973) edition of Bernard Clayton Junior's Complete Book of
Breads. while the texture isn't quite what I want in a baguette, once
again the bread was (note that "was" is past tense! :)) wonderfully
flavorful (using the Carl's starter). I'm sure I'll be making it
again in the future.
--
---- Fred Smith -- fredex@fcshome.stoneham.ma.us -----------------------------
"And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government there will be no
end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from
that time on and forever."
------------------------------- Isaiah 9:7 (niv) ------------------------------