Sour Dough Bread

I dedicate this post to Wade Smith who gave me the Sour dough starter.  Thank you.  I finally did it Wade.  I used the starter and made something with it and it turned out delicious.  Thank you thank you thank you.

Sourdough bread

1 cup sourdough started

4 Tbs melted lard or shortening

1 tsp Baking soda

8 cups flour (plus more if needed and for kneading)

2 and 1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbs salt

Combine starter, all the water, and 3 cups of flour the night before and place in a warm, draft free place.  The next morning add other ingredients and knead until smooth and elastic.  Place in greased bowl in a warm place and let rise to double.  Knead down again, shape into loaves, and let rise to the top of the pan plus a little and bake in greased pans in moderate oven at 375 for about an hour until done.  When it sounds hollow it is ready.  Turn out on racks and let cool.

Surprisingly so few ingredients.

Combine 1 cup sour dough starter, 3 cups water, and 3 cups of flour the night before and place in a warm, draft free place.  I put my bowl in the oven,

This is what it looked like in the morning.  It smelled yeasty and sour-dough-y.

Add the rest of the ingredients and stir together until it forms a ball then knead until smooth and elastic on a floured surface.

Place in greased bowl in a warm place and let rise to double.  Knead down again, shape into two loaves and place in greased bread pans to let rise again to the top of the pan.

Bake at 375F for about an hour until done.  It is done when you tap it and it sounds hollow.  Weird, but true.

Take out of the pan and allow to cool on a cooling rack.  Unless you have no patience like me and burn your fingers cutting it early and just let the butter melt onto the hot bread.

Enjoy.