How I went from “D’oh!” to dough.

Here’s my sourdough story—and like a good starter, it continues to grow.

Late to the (Bread) Party

In the spring of 2021, I decided to try my hand at sourdough. As usual, I was a bit late to the trend that had already risen (ha!) during quarantine. But I don’t mind showing up fashionably late—it gives everyone else time to test things out, make mistakes, and offer advice. Curious to start your own? Here’s a simple guide to making your own starter.

My goal: bake sourdough bread during my 9-day spring break. So, off to Amazon I went. Seventy-five dollars later, I had baskets for proofing, a bench scraper, jars, a Danish whisk, and even a packet of starter. Ready, set, go!

Or… not.

Starter Woes

Maybe my 9-day spring break wasn’t going to be long enough! Turns out the starter I bought wasn’t, well… started. I had to mix the dry packet with flour and water and hope for microbial magic. (Spoiler alert: it never happened.) What I did grow was some pretty impressive pink mold. Not exactly the rise I was hoping for.

Enter the power of social media. With a little help from my cousin (2,000 miles away) and a friend (4 miles away), I was reinspired! My cousin shared simple tips and helped me wade through the sea of conflicting advice. My friend saved the day by gifting me a healthy live starter—plus a sample of her amazing sourdough crackers.

My First Loaf (And a Few Flops)

Attempt #1 was a bust. I followed a recipe with about 13 steps (which should have been a red flag), and tried proofing the dough in a too-warm oven. It basically self-destructed. Who knew bread could be so brutal? With just two days left in my spring vacation, I switched to a simpler recipe—and finally pulled off my first successful loaf! The dough stuck to the banneton (proofing basket), so the shape was more rustic artisan than Instagram-perfect, but the taste? Absolutely divine. I may have teared up a little.

The next loaf went even better. I scored it with my lame (a fancy bread razor) and got a beautiful design.

Bonus, the starter I’d been growing from scratch actually started to bubble and thrive!

The Journey Continues

So that’s how I went from “D’oh!” to Whoa! In my next post, I’ll share some of the tricks I’ve picked up—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and a few must-try recipes for your own baking adventure.

And if you’re in the neighborhood and want a starter of your own, just say the word. I’m always happy to share—and I’d love to follow along on your sourdough journey, too!