Sweet smell of Sourdough bread mmmmmm....

Last week in one of our neighbourhood newsletters there was an ad for free sourdough starter to anyone that would like to try their hand at baking sourdough bread. DD15 and I had often discussed trying to bake sourdough as it is her favourite, but to be honest I was a bit daunted by the whole process. A couple of years ago I read a novel based around a bread starter and how it weaved it's magic through a community and then far and wide without anybody really noticing at first. I think it was called the "Friendship Bread", I must dig it out, and the spirit of pass it forward, share it around has stayed with me and this spurred me forward. Yes I could have started my own starter but I think I was honestly waiting for this one to come to me. Anyway I thought what the heck why not get in contact and see what is involved, so I emailed the person to organise pickup. A lovely young woman called Allegra, who lived within walking distance, even better, was more than happy to share her starter which she had cared for for over two years and she was even more happy to share her favourite recipe also. So Friday night I picked up my starter and did a bit more research and fed it up over then next few days. Then Monday came and I thought to myself what are you waiting for go ahead try it out. So following Allegra's recipe this is what I created. Tah Daaaah.

Needless to say the loaf was not quite cool before it was cut and eaten by DD15 who said "it looks just like a bought one Mum" so I will take that as a compliment. This morning DD15 was eating her breakfast grinning like a Cheshire cat when I asked why, she just smiled and said " sourdough toast with homemade strawberry jam mmmm....). I repeated the process today just to see if it was a fluke but no I did it again, yeah!!!!! Now of course DD15 wants to help make wholemeal, rye and multigrain ones, so some more research is needed.

In the Garden Today

Well last year I got a book form the girls called " Grow something to eat everyday" and I am trying this on for size also, except I think I will outgrow my little greenhouse very quickly. Yesterday I sowed seeds of silverbeet, zucchini, yellow pear tomato, kohl rabi ( have never eaten this let alone grown it), beetroot and lettuces many varieties. I also decided that I should also use some of the many flower seed packets I have collected so I sowed sweetpeas and sunflowers. Today I added capsicums, larkspur and pyrethrum.