Everyday Sourdough: From Starter to Artisan
Bread is life, people!
And learning to make your own doesn’t have to be complicated.
Whether you’re starting with nothing more than flour and water or you’re ready to bake your first loaf, I’m here to walk you through it.
We’ll start by creating your very own sourdough starter, getting that bad boy bubbly and learning how to turn it into bread your family will actually eat.
Sandwich bread, pizza, English muffins, cinnamon rolls and, yes, those beautiful artisan loaves.
No need to be a rocket scientist. Just start at the beginning, follow along and give yourself time to learn.
Welcome to Bread Independence!
Start Your Sourdough Starter
Flour. Water. A little patience. That’s all it takes to get started.
When I first learned about sourdough, I thought it was going to be complicated. Turns out, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to make your own bread!
I’m walking you through the entire process, one lesson at a time. We’ll start with a simple jar of flour and water, learn how to keep that bad boy alive and figure out when it’s ready to turn into something delicious.
Watch the videos in order, follow along in your own kitchen and don’t worry if your starter doesn’t look exactly like mine. Every kitchen is different, and that’s part of learning sourdough.
Before you know it, you’ll be making bread instead of buying it.
Your Beginner Sourdough Video Lessons
Start with Lesson 1 and work your way through the series at your own pace.
Welcome to Sourdough
LESSON 01
New here? Start with a quick introduction to the series and what we’ll be making together.
What Is Sourdough
LESSON 02
What exactly is sourdough, and how does flour and water turn into something that makes bread rise?
What Supplies Do You Need?
LESSON 03
Let’s gather the basics. No expensive equipment or kitchen full of gadgets required.
Make Your Starter
LESSON 04
Grab your flour, water and a jar. We’re getting this sourdough party started!
Day 2: Discard & Feed
LESSON 05
Time to check on your starter, learn how to discard and give it its next feeding. You will repeat this through day 10.
Hooch = Hungry
LESSON 06
Got liquid sitting on top of your starter? Learn what it means and what to do next.
What Is Sourdough Discard?
LESSON 07
Find out why we discard and what you can make with discard once your starter is established.
Is Your Starter Ready?
LESSON 08
Bubbles, rising and that familiar sourdough smell. Let’s figure out when you’re ready to bake!
A little encouragement for beginners
Remember, your starter is a living thing! Some take off like crazy, and others need a little more time. Don’t get caught up comparing yours to somebody else’s on the internet. Follow the lessons, pay attention to what’s happening in your jar and give it time.
Ready to Make More Than Bread?
You’ve got your starter going. Now let’s put that bad boy to work!
My book, From Starter to Artisan: Sourdough for Everyday Life, is packed with over 45 recipes to help you make sourdough part of your everyday kitchen.
From breakfast to dinner and all those delicious things in between, there’s a whole lot more you can do with a jar of flour and water.
You’ve Got a Starter. Now Let’s Make Some Bread!
You’ve fed it. You’ve watched it bubble. You’ve probably stared at that jar more than you’d like to admit.
Now it’s time to put that bad boy to work!
We’re starting with one of my favorite everyday recipes: sourdough sandwich bread. No fancy shaping, no complicated techniques and no need to make a loaf that looks like it belongs in a bakery window.
Just good, homemade bread you can slice, toast, slather with butter and feed to your family.
In this lesson, I’ll walk you through mixing your dough, kneading, shaping, letting it rise and baking your very first loaf.
And if it doesn’t turn out perfectly? There’s always breadcrumbs!
Your First Sourdough Loaf
Homemade sandwich bread that’s made for everyday life.
Ready to Try an Artisan Loaf?
You’ve mastered your sandwich bread. Now let’s get a little fancy!
Ready to make that classic artisan loaf? Follow along as I take the dough through the process from mixing and working the dough to shaping, proofing and baking.
Keep Your Sourdough Starter Going
You’ve made your starter. You’ve baked some bread. Now what?
Well, unless you plan on baking every single day, let’s make this a whole lot easier!
You don’t need to feed a giant jar of starter constantly or waste a mountain of flour to keep it alive. Once you’ve got an established starter, you can develop a routine that actually works for your family.
And because accidents happen (ask me how I know!), I’m also going to show you how to make a backup so you don’t have to start from scratch if something goes wrong.
Learn How to Maintain Your Starter
Less Feeding. Less Discard. More Bread!
Learn how I maintain my starter, adjust the amount I keep and make sourdough fit into everyday life without wasting flour.
Don’t Lose Your Starter!
A little backup can save you a whole lot of frustration. Whether you’re going on vacation, taking a break from baking or simply want some insurance against an accidental starter disaster, I’ve got you covered.
Create a Sourdough Backup
Learn how to store your starter and make a dehydrated backup to keep on hand.
Wake Up Your Starter
Got dried starter tucked away? Here’s how to rehydrate it and get it bubbling again.
Ready to Bake More?
You’ve made your starter, baked your first loaf and figured out how to keep that bad boy alive.
Now let’s put it to work!
Sourdough isn’t just about fancy artisan loaves. We’re talking sandwich bread, English muffins, pizza dough, cinnamon rolls and all kinds of everyday food your family will actually eat.
Pick what sounds good and get baking!
Bring Bread Independence Into Your Kitchen
Sourdough doesn’t need to be complicated, and you certainly don’t need to chase the perfect loaf.
From Starter to Artisan brings together my everyday sourdough recipes in one book you can keep right on your kitchen counter.
Because homemade bread should be something you actually make, not just something you admire on the internet!
Everyday Sourdough Recipes
From breakfast to dinner and everything in between, find homemade recipes that make sourdough part of your everyday life.
Don’t Toss That Discard
Got extra starter? Turn it into something delicious. Crackers, pancakes, muffins and more
From Wheat Berries to Bread
Curious about milling your own flour? Learn about wheat berries, home milling and baking with freshly milled flour.
Got Sourdough Questions?
Because sometimes sourdough has a mind of its own!
Wondering about discard, fermentation, oven spring or why your bread doesn’t look like those picture-perfect loaves on the internet?
I’ve got answers, practical tips and a few reminders that delicious homemade bread doesn’t have to be perfect.
Sourdough Questions Answered | Discard, Oven Spring & Baking Tips
Stop Chasing Perfect Bread!
Sourdough doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to be delicious!
Forget obsessing over the perfect ear, the perfect crumb or whether your bread looks like somebody else’s on the internet.
I’m sharing some of my favorite everyday sourdough tips, from understanding how your starter behaves to working with different doughs and making sourdough fit into YOUR kitchen.
And if your bread doesn’t turn out quite right? Make breadcrumbs!
Everyday Sourdough Tips | Stop Chasing Perfect Bread!
Come Learn With Me at Food Prood Academy
Sourdough is just the beginning!
At Food Prood Academy, we’re bringing old-fashioned skills back into our modern lives. From growing and preserving your own food to cooking from scratch and learning practical homesteading skills, there’s always something new to learn.
You don’t have to grow up knowing how to do these things. You just have to start somewhere.
Become a producer, not just a consumer.