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You are here: Home / Food / “Sourdough A-Z”

by Stacy  80 Comments

“Sourdough A-Z”

I’ve always been a bread baker. For some reason, I gravitate toward bread recipes. I love mixing it up, kneading it (thank you Cooks mixer!), watching it raise, baking it, and then stuffing myself silly with it until I need a dolly to get around. It’s very fulfilling to me. When we switched to making all our bread, I got really excited. The possibilities are endless! There are about a gazillion recipes I want to try. I had been using the same sourdough recipe for years. It had taken me a while to find it and it was working very well for me. I tweaked it until it was just right……and I held on to it. Seriously, I wouldn’t give it to anyone. I would have taken you OUT if you had taken my recipe. Thankfully this blog has helped me become a little more lax where recipes are concerned. And no, I’m not sharing that recipe today. 🙂 I’ve switched to another one – a better method.

I was using a starter that only had to be fed the night before. It had yeast, white sugar, and potato flakes in it. As I began my research into a healthier diet, I discovered that sourdough is VERY good for you. The fermenting and souring process makes the grain easier to process and your body can absorb more of the nutrients. And plus, sourdough is just delicious with butter. I came across this book – Sourdough A-Z from Gnowfglins. Gnowfglins stands for Embracing “God’s Natural Organic Whole Foods, Grown Locally, In Season.” Well that just about says everything I believe in.  You can take e-courses at Gnowfglins to learn all sorts of things like how to make sourdough, cheese, and various kinds of dairy products. One day when our house is paid off, I hope to enroll in their classes. You can go at your own pace.

The book is amazing! First it gives you the basics of sourdough and how it works – very interesting. Then it tells you how to make your starter. Here is mine, alive and well. I just love watching the bubbles. When I first captured yeast from the air, I danced around the kitchen singing “I made bubbles! It’s ALIVE!” Barry looked at me weird…so did Annie. I’m used to it. The starter in this book is the old timey traditional kind, using only water and flour. The starter captures yeast from the air. It eats your flour mixture, creating the bubbles. Yes, there is yeast in the air. I’m just going to sit here a minute and let that sink in……….okay.  You feed your starter twice a day. After a week, you can use it to make stuff. And boy have I been making stuff!

Here is my sourdough setup in the kitchen. My large jar contains white wheat flour, which I use to feed the starter and my little yeasty friends. You can think about them like goldfish….don’t forget to feed them, or they’ll float and you’ll have to have a ceremony in the bathroom. This isn’t the perfect analogy for me, because I have killed many goldfish in my life. And a beta fish named Phil. Actually I did kill my first starter. It got cold in the house, so I stuck it in the oven with the light on…..well, it gets really hot in my oven with the light on…..and I killed them. It was a sad day…a very sad day indeed. I didn’t flush them…..I poured them down the sink. I almost cried, but then I ate a muffin and I was okay again. There is water in the other jar. I didn’t have my Berkey Water Filter when I took this photo, so I was taking water out of the spigot and let it sit for 24 hours so the “stuff” mostly went away. Okay, so not mostly…..but a little bit. It makes me feel better. I cover my starter jar with a coffee filter and rubber band. It can still get air but the gnats can’t get in….banana lovers have gnats. I love bananas. You know where this is going……

The book has tons of great recipes for using your sourdough starter. Things I never even thought about! The first thing I made successfully was a batch of English Muffins. And boy are they GOOD! About a gazillion times better than ones from the store. I’ll never look back. My first disaster was with bread. The book tells you that bread is the hardest one to master…..but I tried it first. I’m strange like that. And it was bad. Really bad. It was so bad and so sour and so flat that we fed it to the birds….and I think they might have died. Sorry birds.

And then I made these glorious Cinnamon Raisin Muffins. HELLO BEAUTIFUL! We gobbled these up fast. It made 18 and we had them eaten in two days….there are only three of us here. Yeah, you do the math.

So far our favorite recipe is the skillet pancake. Oh. My. Gosh. They will just make you slap your mama. You need an iron skillet for this. If you don’t have one, buy one today. Thank you. Even Annie will eat these and I can’t get her to eat regular pancakes.

Here are some delicious biscuits I made with my starter and whole wheat flour. Man oh man. I thought I made good biscuits before, but these are awesome! And I used kefir in them too. The first time I made Barry biscuits after we were married, they looked like hockey pucks and they were about as flat a pancake….and he ate them. He’s a keeper.

So, if you’re thinking about making sourdough and you want to know how it goes, I can highly recommend the Sourdough A-Z book from Gnowfglins. It’s top notch. You’ll also find other fun recipes like pizza dough, chocolate cake, and waffles.

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About Stacy

Stacy is a Homemaking and Business Mom Mentor, the author of two cookbooks, creator of multiple e-courses, seasoned life coach, and comedian extraordinaire. Her first priority is her husband and her children - family first. She presses on each day because her calling is to teach, train, and mentor other ladies to have their dreams. She believes if it’s not easy, you won’t do it – because she’s lived it. She’ll bring YOU the awesome so that you can get your home back into control and watch your business soar. For tips and easy strategies, you can follow her on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

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Comments

  1. Leah H says

    September 25, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    I was hoping to have the Sourdough recipe posted here 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 25, 2013 at 9:38 pm

      🙂 No – copyrights don’t allow re-posting of recipes.

      Reply
  2. Rachel @ day2day joys says

    May 14, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Stacy, what’s the sourdough recipe you use for THM or is it in the book?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      May 14, 2013 at 9:42 pm

      It’s one of Wardeh’s recipes that I tweaked.

      Reply
  3. janet ragle says

    July 16, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    would love this book in my kitchen lol

    Reply
  4. Melody says

    July 16, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    I love sourdough bread too! This book sounds wonderful!

    Reply
  5. Jessica Buchanan says

    July 16, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    I would love to use this book to try new recipes! I had never heard of this! I will be checking it out!

    Reply
  6. Rachel Kimbler says

    July 16, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    I am not much of a baker, but I want to be! I saw you on Daytime Tri-Cities and I went to your website – I am so motivated now!!!! I have my fingers, toes, arms, and legs crossed hoping I’ll win it!

    Thank you!!

    Reply
  7. Kim Russell says

    July 16, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    Love Sourdough bread!! Always wondered if there were other things to make with the starter than bread =)

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 16, 2011 at 2:04 pm

      TONS of stuff! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Rhonda Houchin says

    July 16, 2011 at 1:02 pm

    I love sour dough and would love to win this book

    Reply
  9. Gloria Mathes says

    July 16, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to bake! This book sounds awesome! Would love to win it and get started! Thank you for the opportunity.

    Reply
  10. Vera says

    July 16, 2011 at 11:53 am

    Love sourdough but do not have a starter….would love to get a starter & would love to get this book!!!!

    Reply
  11. Angie says

    July 16, 2011 at 11:53 am

    I would love to win this book! I already do the Amish Friendship Bread and I think I would like to try the Sourdough. Thanks! =)

    Reply
  12. Lisa says

    July 16, 2011 at 11:28 am

    I love to bake! I would love to win this book!

    Reply
  13. Kelly Heaton says

    July 16, 2011 at 10:11 am

    I would love to have this book. A woman I worked with gave me some of her grand mother’s started (she is a grandmother herself) and I killed it. I’ve attempted sourdough a few times, but have never had any luck.

    Reply
  14. Sherry Fleenor says

    July 16, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Stacy I have a 15 ear old son that would love this book. He is planning to be a chef and cooks all the time. He has took some classes at the South Eastern Culinary School. He has even made his own bar-b-que recipe. He has recently started trying to bake bread.Please consider us for this drawing.

    Reply
  15. Suzanne says

    July 15, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Pick me, Pick me, Pick me.. Puuulllllleeease!!!

    Reply
  16. Beth Mason says

    July 15, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    Please enter me in for the sourdough book giveaway. Love your website.

    Reply
  17. Veronica M says

    July 15, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    I haven’t made any sourdough bread yet, Have made rolls & pizza crust. I have made white bread (in bread machine). Would love to try sourdough bread too!!!! Sign Me Up Please!!!!!!

    Reply
  18. marcy says

    July 14, 2011 at 5:25 am

    I am just starting to bake bread. I’ve had a few disasters! The only sourdough I’ve ever tried was the Amish bread version. I’d love the book!

    Reply
  19. nikki says

    July 14, 2011 at 1:11 am

    I love gnowfglins and would love to win this! I have wanted to buy but it is not in my budget!

    Reply
  20. Courtney says

    July 13, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    I just made the biscuits you were talking yesterday not the ones from the picture but the ones that looked like hockey pucks lol. Enter me PLEASE! This is my first time on your site (I found you from Real Food Wednesday). Great job.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2011 at 6:54 am

      Thanks Courtney! We can create the biscuit hockey puck club. lol

      Reply
  21. Ivana says

    July 13, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Great giveaway! Please enter me too. Greetings from Croatia!

    Reply
  22. april says

    July 13, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    Enter Please 😉

    Reply
  23. Shelly says

    July 13, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    I have a friend who purchased this book not to long ago and she also raves about it. So I think if I don’t win it from you I might have to take some of my blow money I’ve been saving and buy it myself.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 13, 2011 at 2:04 pm

      I think it would be a very wise purchase. If you use the link above, I’ll get credit for your book! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Ronnie says

    July 13, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    I would love to have this book. I want to make my own bread too. That way you know exactly what goes in it.

    Reply
  25. jenny says

    July 13, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I would love to win this ebook!

    Reply
  26. Linda says

    July 13, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Please enter me in this giveaway. Would love this book.

    Reply
  27. YIN says

    July 13, 2011 at 9:00 am

    WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS BOOK…PLEASE ENTER MY NAME…THANKS.

    Reply
  28. Sandy Huron says

    July 13, 2011 at 4:57 am

    I’m trying to become a better cook, and those English muffins look great! Thank you for the help!

    Reply
  29. [email protected] says

    July 12, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    You KNOW I’d really appreciate owning this book and would be baking sourdough goodies everyday. That skillet pancake looks like something I just might need to try…. Just like Annie, I’m totally NOT in the pancake fan club.

    Reply
  30. Christina says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    I want to be entered! I’ve been wanting a sourdough recipe that doesn’t use the sugar and potatoes!

    Reply
  31. CarolM says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    I would love this book. Friday of last week I had my first ever sour dough “FLOP”. It was bad, have never had sour dough do this to me before I have been doing it for over 3 years.
    It is wonderful of both you and GNOWFGLINS to make this offer!

    Reply
  32. Sharon I says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    Have been wanting to learn more about sourdough!
    Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Marie Hutchison says

    July 12, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    Would so love to have this book!! Please enter me!! And if I do not win, how do I order the book from you? Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 12, 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Marie, you can click on the Sourdough A-Z link in the post above to order through me. Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
  34. Susan R says

    July 12, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I have never made anything sourdough, but to make English Muffins would be, oh, so good! The cookbook would be a BIG motivator. 🙂

    Reply
  35. Michelle Ellis says

    July 12, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    This book sounds like what I have been looking for. Please enter my name.

    Reply
  36. Carolyn says

    July 12, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    Would love to win this book.

    Reply
  37. Karen Rice says

    July 12, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    I am just beginning to learn about sourdough and would love to have this book.

    Reply
  38. Lynn Rogers says

    July 12, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    I would love to have this book! My bought starter died last year and I would love to grow my own. I live in the SC Lowcountry, so I suspect we have lots of yeast in the air!

    Reply
  39. Debra Brown says

    July 12, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    I can remember my Mama making sourdough starter, what great memories and BREADS!!!
    Please enter me for this one!!

    Debra

    Reply
  40. Marsha Odom says

    July 12, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    would love this book…………enter me please

    Reply
  41. Lois thacker says

    July 12, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    I would love to win a book and I love your website
    and your ideas.

    Reply
  42. Sherri says

    July 12, 2011 at 11:35 am

    I would love to have the book. I haven’t had a lot of time to check out the website you referred to though I have heard about it. I’m always looking for new recipes and ways to create my own stuff. My dad says give me 5 years and I will be making my own cloth for clothes from wool and stuff…I don’t think I wll go that far, but my next project is to create my own green house so I can grow all of my veggies and stuff from seed!

    One question I do have….do you have a problem with the bread staying together and not falling apart when you cut it? I used to make bread in my bread maker (using the very unhealthy flour) and it would always fall apart as soon as I started cutting it. We definitely could not use it for sandwiches and stuff. (maybe that was because of the flour—lol).

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 12, 2011 at 12:02 pm

      Sherri, I haven’t mastered the bread for the sourdough yet. However, you should check out my Kitchen Aid bread recipe on the site. It’s what we use for sandwiches. It slices very well.

      Reply
  43. hallie says

    July 12, 2011 at 11:32 am

    Stacey…. i love your site so informative. I can not wait to try everything you and others have suggested. Thank you again for taking the time to provide this wonder information!!!

    Reply
  44. Joyce says

    July 12, 2011 at 11:23 am

    You had my total attention at the mention of homemade English Muffins! YUM!

    Reply
  45. Linda says

    July 12, 2011 at 11:18 am

    nothing better than homemade sourdough bread. Think I will give it a try

    Reply
  46. nancy says

    July 12, 2011 at 11:11 am

    yumm, does it include alternative grains??

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 12, 2011 at 11:20 am

      Why yes it does! 🙂

      Reply
  47. Debbie Lynch says

    July 12, 2011 at 10:31 am

    I love the smell of my starter!! You would think it would be eeeew soured smelling….but its a sweet sour smell. And yummmy!! I would love to have this cookbook…..I hope I am the LUCKY WINNER :-))))

    Reply
  48. Haley says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:57 am

    Thanks to you, I am now very comfortable at making my own bread. The first time I made yeast rolls they were hard and dry. I even was bad at making loaf bread. I did well with all of the quick breads, but now I am successful with the yeast breads woohoo!!

    Reply
  49. Brandy says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Count me in to the giveaway. 🙂

    Reply
  50. Jan Ryan says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:18 am

    Thank you! What timing! I’ve been reading a novel with a baking/sourdough theme. I love to bake bread but have never experimented with sourdough. I need that book! Jan

    Reply
  51. Willie Mitchell says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Please, please, please I want it so bad so I can learn to capture yeast from the air. We are beginning to try to eat healthier whole food without white sugar or whie flour.

    Reply
  52. Amanda Burke says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:59 am

    I love sourdough….it’s my favorite bread.

    Reply
  53. Teresa says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:48 am

    Would love to have this. I love sourdough bread but have never had good luck with starters for bread.

    Reply
  54. Sarah says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:42 am

    This would be awesome! I’ve wondered about sourdough and how you make it! I was a little weirded out when I first read that you feed your starter and the yeast lol but then I was like well I have 3 dogs, a cat, a child, a husband, and I feed them so waht’s the difference? Plus I think we feed most of the neighborhood cats, the birds, and few skunks so I think I’d be ok to feed my starter and the yeast! lol

    Reply
  55. Mandy says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:36 am

    I have never tried to make bread in the past but would love a healthier option for my family. This book sounds like a great place to start learning.

    Reply
  56. Susan Munsey says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:36 am

    I would love this book!

    Reply
  57. Canning Confessions says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:32 am

    This is awesome! I always make our own bread, honey whole wheat. But, I’ve never made sour dough and, now I must!

    Reply
  58. Erinn Linkous says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:24 am

    I want it! And need the amount of ingredients to make the starter 🙂 Yum!!!

    Reply
  59. Sara says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:23 am

    I would love to be able to bake my own bread!

    Reply
  60. Katie says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:11 am

    I am getting ready to start making our own bread, and I can’t wait. This book looks like a must have! I’m excited about the pizza dough recipe 🙂 LOVE HOMEMADE PIZZA!

    Reply
  61. Kathy says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I have never made sourdough bread before, but your pictures look so good.

    Reply
  62. Nancy E. says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:02 am

    I LOVE sourdough bread, but haven’t had much luck making it. What is the cost of the book if purchased through you?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 12, 2011 at 8:18 am

      $20 and it’s well worth the money!

      Reply
  63. Angie Peterson says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:47 am

    i would love to have this book. I was just looking around yesterday for sourdough bread recipes… so this is perfect timing! Stacy… are you reading my mind?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 12, 2011 at 8:18 am

      Actually, yes. LOL

      Reply
  64. Stephanie says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:38 am

    Yummy! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
  65. Tia says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:22 am

    I haven’t made bread in forever, but I would love to get back to it.

    Reply
  66. Deborah says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:21 am

    I love making sourdough bread. I too use the potato flakes in the starter. I could eat a whole loaf by myself warm with butter. Better bread I can’t image.

    Reply
  67. Heather says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:20 am

    I have always wanted to make sourdough, but have had no luck with starters! I would love the book

    Reply
  68. Becca C says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Ooooh this is exciting, I love baking bread!

    Reply
  69. Ashley says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:02 am

    Have tried baking my own bread at times, but would love to win this cookbook and become more experienced!

    Reply
  70. Dee says

    July 12, 2011 at 7:26 am

    Love your ideas! The bread looks so great.

    Reply


Hello! I’m Stacy!

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