You know, this quarantine stuff really got me to thinking today. I was in the midst of a bake-fest, when it occurred to me that not everyone has the knowledge of how to even bake a loaf of bread if needed. Although it is not a hard thing at all, it does require a wee bit of good old-fashioned "know how". That "know how" is merely the hints and tips that have been passed down from generation to generation. Most of these tips are not written but were taught by hands on experience. Most baked goods follow a general recipe and have "add ins" for flavor. Because of this, die-hard bakers can whip up a loaf of bread without ever cracking a cookbook or, nowadays, looking for a recipe on the Internet. It just comes natural.
Thinking back on it, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbors all had a hand in making sure I had a good solid background when it came to survival. One of the utmost lessons was to be able to grow, cook and preserve food. It seemed to be the thing to do. Teach kids to have a smattering of knowledge about everything. Fix a broken pipe? Got it! Tune a carburetor? No problem! Bake a loaf of bread? Sure thing! Fillet a fish? Hand me the knife! Mend a shirt? I can do this! The list goes on and on. We were a generation of kids that COULD! What happened along the way? I am sure glad my three adult kids have that "smattering" and are not afraid to try anything! They know how to survive when the going gets tough.
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I can attest that it is true. Being apart does, indeed, make a love stronger. The yearning for togetherness is hard. Then, when the separation is over, joy takes over again! I know...been there and done that...I have missed you, dear bottle of sourdough starter! You should have never left me but I am glad that you are back where you belong. Life is good.
For years and years, a bottle of sourdough starter sat on the counter bubbling its way into my heart. Breads of all sorts endeared themselves to me by sating the hunger pangs and, well, just tasting so delicious! On one trip to Georgia to see the Grandlittles, the starter up and died. "Feed and take out the dog. Feed and let the cat out. Water the plants." Such instructions were handed to Son when we walked out the door but not one mention was made to "Feed the sourdough starter." The thing literally starved to death! When we returned, I tried my best to revive the bottle of baking goodness but nothing happened. I fed the starter but it was in vain. Poor starter was dead. Gone. Kaput! Never to be bubbly again.
With all else I have been doing lately, I had forgotten all about sourdough bread until this morning. With our first cold front of the season putting a nice chill on the Bayou, I wanted to bake. On, my goodness! Sourdough/cheese biscuits would be a delightful breakfast. Oops! Having no sourdough starter put a nix on that idea.
So, there was nothing else to do but mix together a new batch of starter. Of course, I will have to wait for about ten days before the stuff is ready to be used, but, at least, I will have it when I wish to bake. As soon as I covered the already bubbling jar, I had a request for a "start" of starter! Yep. I am willing to share. Yep. It is a good idea to share since this stuff will multiply exponentially if you do not bake every other day or so. Yep. I missed you, sourdough starter! I am glad to have you back.
