I am now able to announce that I had recently been enrolled in the Nessmuck Sourdough Institute ...

My on-line instruction started on July 19 and began with equipment, supplies and ingredient requirements, followed by creating my own starter, and finally making my first sourdough bread, which I finished today.

(Note that numerous ingredients and measurements were involved in the making of this sourdough and the completion of this course, but none of this proprietary information will be revealed as part of this narrative.)

With the wonderful air conditioning in here, I decided to warm up my starter a few degrees by situating it so the glass was pressed against the glass of one of my aquariums (not a great conductor LOL but it is 78 degrees in the tanks). Then I wrapped the remaining area of the starter jar with fur to insulate it and keep the room air off of it. I took a few photos...

Here is the wrapped starter jar. It is sitting on a muskrat and wrapped 3/4 of the way around with chinchilla. The one side is making contact with the aquarium glass.



The first day I did that I started to get good action in there. Here is the unwrapped starter later that afternoon.



I have been doing that ever since and my starter is happy.

(Note: the little, ugly aquarium is a quarantine tank for fish before I add them to my nice tank!)

After progressing through the starter ratios, I moved on to the dough bucket stage. That included stretch & folds, resting and finally rising. Due to the larger size of the dough bucket, I felt a nice beaver pelt would be better than the chinchilla.



In the end, I made two sourdough loaves, which have been evaluated by Nessy and personally tested by Zim, who has been sitting here with a butter knife and a stick of butter for days!




Most importantly, Nessy says I have graduated!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!



Nessy, I cannot thank you enough for all of your time and guidance. I owe you big time!

Great looking crumb ....and an A+..Student !!!!

Nice!You should market those fur, "Sour Dough Starter Wraps".Might have something there.

They worked beautifully!

I have two more jars of starter saved, so I should be able to improve on technique!

Really Nice

Is Zim doing the happy dance now ????

Yep, Zim is doing the happy dance now!

Zim ran over a nest of yellow jackets with the mower yesterday. That, however, was not a happy dance. He was stung by dozens of them. One got stuck in his sock and got him numerous times before he was free. He was not feeling too good last night, but he felt that the sourdough was aiding in his recovery.

Every time I turn around there is another piece of bread gone. Zim's latest review is that it is especially good with honey. He loves it!

Make him some French toast tomorrow !!!

Grilled cheese with prosciutto is the bomb...but the secret weapon is spreading Mayo ..instead

Of butter on the sides that get grilled in the cast iron skillet.

Hope you got some Benadryl in that ol boy !!

I'm taking good care of him! I just went out on a very quiet reconnaissance mission to mark the yellow jacket nest. I hate to laugh, but it was obvious where Zim's lawn mowing pattern went off the deep end! I found the little demons, gently slipped a survey flag into their hole and quietly walked away. Hee. Hee. Hee. Zim's napalm mission begins tonight after dark.

I can't wait to try some of that great stuff! This morning, I toasted a piece, buttered it nicely and then tested the following toppings...



Peanut butter, blackberry jam, our fresh raspberries and honey. All wonderful.

Very nice.Congrats.