Sourdough for Busy People

Hi, So you think making sourdough bread takes too much time and requires a lot of work.. I mean, it is homemade bread by the way.  Do flashback from Little House on The Prairie pop up when Laura Ingles is trying to study to be a teacher all the while kneading large balls of bread dough?  How can this possibly be a task for someone working in an office 5 days  week for 8-9 hours?  I mean, Laura works from home and looks stressed. Well, you can do it.  It just takes a little planning....omg I hate that phrase.  If I had a nickle for everytime somebody says "it takes a little planning" I would be very rich, I mean with a little planning we could save the fucking planet but who has time for that?

So Here We Go!

Things you must have (or really should have):

1.                 Stand mixer preferably a kitchen aid or similar heavy duty brand with a dough hook attachment.
2.                 Dutch oven: either cast or enameled cast with lid
3.                 Bowl for resting bread
4.                 Bowl for proofing bread
5.                 Parchment paper
6.                 Some sourdough starter from a friend that is well fed leading up to bread making day
7.                 Hard surface for kneading dough (clean granite countertops work great)
8.                 Damp towel
9.                 Timer (use Siri)

Cool proofing bowl

Night before you want to make bread:

1.       Add to Stand Mixer:

            4 cups all-purpose flour

1.5   teaspoons of salt

2.       Get a good night’s sleep knowing you have a jump start on bread making like a boss

 

The next morning when you get up:

                Add 1.5 cups of water to Mixer

                Add .5 cups of sourdough starter to mixer

1.       Start mixer on low setting with dough hook

2.       Go about your business for 20 minutes.

3.       Remove dough from mixer and knead on hard surface for 5 to 10 minutes

4.       Let set on hard surface for an hour while you get ready for work or go for a run.

5.       Just before leaving the house, knead bread for 5 to 10 more minutes then roll into a ball

6.       Set in a floured bowl covered with a damp towel then go to work.

 

After work:

1.       Knead bread for 5 to 10 minutes, roll into a round ball then place seam side up in the proofing bowl ( the dough should have visibly risen)

2.       Let set for an hour while oven pre-heats to 425

3.       After one hour in the proofing bowl, turn out onto parchment and cut hash marks or decorations in the top,

4.       Place in Dutch oven and bake with lid on for 25 minutes

5.       Remove lid and bake for 25 minutes or until desired brownness.

Enjoy the homemade sourdough that you totally nailed during the work day!