Rising to the Occasion: A Return to Sourdough Baking

As a proud member of the #silvergoldstackers community and an experienced "master-baker," my love for baking has been rekindled in the most wonderful way. For years, I considered myself a seasoned sourdough enthusiast, long before the COVID-era sourdough craze swept kitchens worldwide. My little jar of wild yeast magic, lovingly named Mildred, was always at the ready to help me craft crusty loaves and fill the house with that unmistakable aroma of freshly baked bread.

Sadly, Mildred has since gone to the bakehouse in the sky. But this Christmas, my amazing wife reignited my passion for baking by gifting me a rye sourdough starter. Three weeks of careful nurturing later, I’m proud to say my new starter has hit its prime. Today, it produced a loaf that was everything I strive for in sourdough: a crackling crust, a chewy interior, and just the right balance of tangy flavour.

The Magic of Sourdough
Sourdough bread is a testament to the art of natural leavening. Unlike bread made with commercial yeast or chemical leavening agents like baking powder, sourdough relies entirely on a starter. This fermented mixture of flour and water teems with wild yeast and lactobacilli bacteria, working together to make the dough rise and give it that characteristic tang.

The beauty of sourdough lies in its simplicity and resilience. A healthy starter can last indefinitely if cared for properly, and it becomes a unique extension of your kitchen. It connects you to centuries of baking tradition, when people made bread with nothing but flour, water, salt, and time.

A New Starter, A New Journey
Reviving my sourdough practice with a new rye starter has been a delightful journey. There’s a sense of satisfaction in feeding your starter, watching it bubble to life, and knowing that it holds the potential to create something truly special. And while starting from scratch is a rewarding experience, my wife's thoughtful gift meant I could jump straight back into baking with confidence, knowing my starter was strong from the outset.

Why Baking Bread Matters
In a world dominated by processed foods and convenience, there’s something deeply grounding about baking your own bread. For me, it’s not just a hobby—it’s a life skill and a form of self-reliance. Sourdough baking eliminates the need for processed yeast, relying instead on the wild yeasts already present in your environment. This makes it an invaluable skill for those who value traditional methods and prefer to keep processed ingredients to a minimum.

Moreover, baking sourdough is a reminder of the simple joys in life. Kneading dough, shaping a loaf, and hearing that first crackle as it cools from the oven—these are small but meaningful pleasures that connect me to my family and my food.

My rekindled love for sourdough has also reminded me of the importance of preserving and passing down traditions. Baking bread is a skill I hope to teach my children one day, just as I’ve taught them the value of stacking precious metals and being prepared for the unexpected. It’s about resilience, resourcefulness, and taking pride in what you create with your own two hands.

Baking Beyond the Trend
While sourdough has had its moment in the spotlight, for me, it’s always been more than just a trend. It’s a practice that ties together history, science, and creativity. Each loaf is a small triumph, a testament to patience and care.

So here’s to my new starter, to my family’s love of homemade bread, and to the simple but profound joy of baking something real in a world that often feels too processed. My sourdough journey is back in full swing, and I couldn’t be happier to share it with my family—and maybe inspire a few others to start their own.