How to Mail Cookies

Baking cookies for the holidays is my thing. I love to hand out a box of assorted cookies to family and friends. I always ask them which one is their favorite, but most of the time they can’t (or won’t?) choose. Even though we weren’t able to visit with loved ones last year I was not going to let that stop me from keeping my holiday cookie tradition. So with the help of my husband, we mailed our holiday cookie boxes. It was the first time I had ever done that and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Aside from …

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Holiday Meal for Two

For Thanksgiving Day we wanted to celebrate with a big delicious meal, even if it was just the two of us this year. It was our first attempt at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and not only did we have a lovely time, but it was a success in hosting a holiday meal for two. I suspect that many of you will be hosting smaller gatherings this holiday season so I thought that I would share some tips (and new recipes) with you that might help you plan your little gatherings as we head into the holidays. Tips: Set a schedule. …

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Maintaining Your Sourdough Starter

I always maintain my sourdough starter at 100% hydration. That simply means that for every gram of flour I add, I also add a gram of water. This means that my starter is always a consistent level of hydration. If you want happy starter, easy math, and consistent recipes, this approach keeps everything nice and simple. In general, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your starter jar regularly. I check mine daily, but don’t always do anything with it based on what I see. There are a couple things to look out for that indicate doing …

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What Sourdough Is

Sorry germophobes, but naturally occurring yeast and bacteria are all around you all the time. Just try not to think about it. Thousands of years ago, in the ages way before what I refer to as “industrialized yeast” this was all there was for making bread. Sourdough starter has yeast and other things living in it just waiting to make delicious bread. That means sourdough is effectively just the stuff that makes bread rise. Today, going to the grocery store is all it takes to get a packet or jar of single strain instant yeast. This yeast works amazingly well …

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Where Sourdough Lives

Like a doghouse for your dog, your sourdough needs a place to live too. Since practically anything can serve as a vessel for your starter, there are lots of choices. My experience has helped me to narrow down what makes a “good” home for your starter. An obvious feature is that it must be able to hold liquid. A less obvious feature is that it must not be able to hold air. This may sound a little screwy at first, but let me explain. You are adding flour and water to your container, which ends up being basically a thick …

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