Sourdough, the unknown country. An unknown country.

 Excited to create pumpernickel rolls like one finds at steakhouses (yum!), I searched high and low for what looks like a good recipe. https://theweekdaykitchen.com/pumpernickel-steakhouse-rolls/

Few of the ingredients can be found in my local stores, so I just ordered what I lacked from King Arthur’s. I expected it to arrive in early December. The package arrived while we were at family Thanksgiving. Among other things in the package with which I have zero experience, was a sourdough starter kit. That recipe calls for sourdough starter, which I obviously didn’t have. Until we find a home in the pantry, the contents remain in their delivery box, resting in the cool of the kitchen window seat.

Tonight, I’m having trouble sleeping. I could wake Kevin with my tossing about on my side of the bed, or I could get up and learn about sourdough. Time to open up that box. I’m still not completely clear on it all, but I think this is a great time for step one. In case you weren’t aware, sourdough is a demanding mistress who does nothing quickly.

Step 1: 

In case that’s not clear, it has to sit for 8 to 24 hours. Why not do it at 3:30?

My confusion lies here: even though these were the directions included, do they mean the 28g starter package?

I’m going to assume so. 

Initial feeding, as per directions:

In this cooler weather, our home is generally not room temperature (68-70F), more like 63F. I dislike turning on the heater needlessly. Anywho, the closed microwave seems to be room temperature.

I’ll have to leave a note for hubs to return the items to the microwave if he uses it in the morning. Hopefully, I’ll be able to start step 2 in ten-ish hours.

When I left the bed in favor of the kitchen, I had an idea to start on the pumpernickel rolls. The recipe calls for a 1/2 cup of sourdough starter fed or unfed - I interpret that to mean I can use the “discard” from step 2. That’ll save time. Once all the pumpernickel roll ingredients are mixed and kneaded, they have to sit in the fridge overnight. Ugh. That’s, um, fine. I’ll complete the recipe on Saturday. These better be amazing rolls. It seems I can also use the sourdough discard to make pancakes, or English muffins. Whole new worlds are opening to me through this purchase from good old King Arthur.

First rolls ever

 I made rolls. Kevin and I made them, but mostly I did it. It was the first time ever without Daddy. He’s been gone three years, and it had been a while before that.

My task this Thanksgiving was to bring rolls. After making last years’ delicious, albeit cold in places, mashed potatoes, I was demoted to rolls. (The crowd was large last year, and keeping that many potatoes warm with my single oven didn’t cut it, apparently.) We bought enough Sara Lee pre-fab for all, but I truly wanted to make Daddy proud. Thus, Wednesday evening, I introduced my tipsy hubs to the joy of baking bread products from scratch. It was easy, in my mind. Maybe not so much for hubs, but his knowledge has expanded as have the things that bring him joy.

Using this recipe:  https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/big-batch-quick-dinner-rolls-recipe we created two dozen rolls in less than two hours. Most have been consumed, but these remain:

They’d have benefited from five more minutes in the oven when eaten directly from the pan, but the process of reheating them takes care of it. All in all, I’m pleased.