Fresh bread during lockdown

When I went to the grocery to stock up before we were told to stay in and avoid crowds, I was careful to buy mostly ingredients I would need for meals, not snacks or pre made things.

Since I regularly bake bread, I bought two bags of bread flour, one of regular.  I figured I might be dropping off bread to the porches of family members too.

What did I not get? 
YEAST

And apparently, I am not the only one that thought she’d be doing a bit of baking.  There was no yeast to be found at that point.   I have enough for my household, just not enough for the whole family.

Then, I saw a suggestion online to make sourdough starter.  I found a simple recipe and am trying it out.  This one is 3/4 cup plus 2T flour and a 1/2 cup water, every day for five days.  You stir it together, keep it lightly covered at room temperature.  I went with a clean kitchen towel and rubber band as a lid.

I have never made this before, but I am enjoying the science experiment aspect of it, and miss having my little homeschooler here this week to share it with. (She is with her mom)

Also, it is kind of cool that it is living. And needs to be fed.  I have named it Sara Jo.

The guy we bought our layers from also raises “Meatbirds” as he calls them, and sent a frozen meatbird home with us.  I am hoping to make sourdough biscuits with roasted meatbird to try out the starter in a couple days.  Then, will move on to loaves of bread to share.

When I bake, I use a bread maker to mix and knead it.  Then, I oil pans, place the dough in, oil the top of the dough and set the pans into my microwave to use as a warming box to proof in.

I have found that boiling a cup of water in the microwave first, and leaving the cup next to the dough promotes a good rise.  Also, I think that you get a crustier crust and a more attractive loaf if you bake it in the oven instead of leaving it in the bread maker to cook.

I’ll let you know how the sourdough turns out.

And if you are in the area, are needing chickens to raise or meatbirds to eat, I can give you our guy’s name.   He has some friendly little hens. We like our few.