I neglected my sourdough starter for too long and it died. I started a new batch today and I’ll be able to start using it next week. I made it the old fashioned way, following Sally Fallon’s instructions in ” Nourishing Traditions”. I ground 2 cups of rye into flour and added 2 cups of cold water. The mixture stays covered with a clean cloth and will be kept on the kitchen counter. For the next 6 days I’ll transfer the starter into a clean bowl and add a cup of rye flour and a cup of water. It will get bubbly. Then it will settle down a bit and be ready for me to use for bread and baked goods. After that, I’ll keep it refrigerated and fed with rye flour and water . Hopefully, it will last for years, unless I abandon it again.
Two or three times a year, I make laundry detergent. One batch makes 5 gallons. I was getting low so I made that too. It took about 20 minutes and it has to stand for 24 hours. Tomorrow I’ll fill up my milk cartons and be set for a while.
I so admire your confidence in making sourdogh starter. I tried for six months some fifteen years ago to make it – maybe longer ago than that – when the artisan bread ‘craze’ first came into fashion. Total abject failure for me, so I am always impressed when folks can actually make a starter that makes bread!! BTW, I’ve tried a couple of times to access your laundry soap recipe and my browser tel;ls me there’s an error. Might check… Have a wonderful day!!
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How annoyed you must have felt! All the antibacterial cleaning products can foil a good starter attempt. Maybe your kitchen was too sanitary:)
Thanks for the heads up on the link. It’s so hot here today, I think my brain may be in slow motion.
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I do hope you keep the bowls well apart 🙂
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I am in the library because we have no internet and I just got a dirty look from the librarian for laughing, Derrick. : )
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Pleased to have caused the rebellion 🙂
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Boy, those librarians can be scary!
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LOL!! good one, Derrick!
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Amazing – I don’t know if I’d be confident enough to make my own sourdough, but I really like the detergent formula!
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The detergent formula is easy and it works. It’s even easier and quicker to make the powdered detergent. I have a front loading washer and have to use liquid but someone posted the powdered recipe in a comment below. Both are big money savers and it’s a good feeling as far as being environmentally conscientious.
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I’m going interstate to visit a friend this morning and she’s a soap maker! I’ll definitely steal a bar of soap from her for the laundry detergent. 🙂
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Sounds like a fun visit, Mary! I bet you have really interesting friends. Hope you like the detergent:)
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Amazing.
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Both easy projects!
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I’d like to try both of these but the detergent formula looks a little more realistic for my skills. I learn a lot from your blog!
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Thanks! Sourdough starter seemed intimidating to me too before I tried it. It turned out to be simple. The challenging part was keeping up with the starter and not forgetting about it in the fridge:)
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Keep giving us encouragement to “make our own”. Both bread and soap smell wonderful! Jo @ Let’s Face the Music.
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Nothing like the smell of bread in the oven!! It’s amazing too how once you stop using artificial fragrances and cleaning products , you get a whole different take on how you smell everything
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Speaking of make your own – ever since your salad dressing recipe I am a lover of buttermilk. I find a way to add it to everything!
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Thank you for the laundry soap recipe. Gotta try this… And you remind me that my starter needs attention.
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Nothing like a good starter! So satisfying
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