Dulcet Devotion

You can research, study, find information online and in books, ask friends who have been there. You can take all that information, process it, and formulate your own absolute bread truth. You think you know exactly what you are meant to do. What it should look like, smell like, act like. You are ready to tackle this latest accomplishment aaaaand…it doesn’t work. Ahhhhhh BIG SIGH…

As it happens, it doesn’t matter if your eyes tell you it looks right, or your ego tells you you’re on the right track because of course, you’ve learned all about it! You’re an expert! Maybe your datebook has “make bread” scribbled in for today. Well let me tell you something about bread making and cultivating a starter: If your gut tells you it’s not time, or if your gut tells you she’s sort of doing what I think they’re describing she should look like, smell like, act like…WAIT. Take a walk, bake a cake, chug a beer. Just don’t rush her. It’s not time. When it’s time, you will KNOW. She will be acting exactly as the book said she would, no question. She WILL smell like overripe fruit (in the best possible way, strange as that sounds). There will be no question about whether or not she is bubbling and if so, if she’s bubbling ENOUGH. When she (or he, for that matter) is ready, you will realize how wrong you were when it wasn’t quite right. Or when she was almost ready but not as ready as NOW.

You must remember you are dealing with a living, breathing thing. A strong, at times demanding, yet sensitive creature. Like a baby, she can’t tell you what she needs or wants in ways that you are used to, in ways that make sense to you. At first. But in the end, you figure it out. And once you do, you’ll never forget.

This intimate back and forth, the detail with which you must observe your baby forges a deep bond. And when you give her the love and attention she craves, and yes, at first it’s hard work and you’ll wonder sometimes if she’s really worth it, but when you do, and once she’s ready, she will forever repay you for your service and will always amaze you with her tireless devotion to you and to creating beautiful bread, each and every time.

And as you grow together, she will continue to improve. You’ll be become more used to her quirks and desires and she’ll be more used to you. Your bread will be different each time but always interesting and always full of flavour.

My (yet to be named) girl had some rough starts. There was the promise of beautiful things and then some major disappointments. This is an exercise in routine and patience. Also of heightened awareness and observation. You will need to call on your vision, your smell, your best judgement, your heart. If you have trouble at first, stick with it. Even if it means throwing the whole thing away and starting fresh. Sometimes you just can’t bring her back around. That’s ok. That’s normal.

Now that she’s humming like a well-oiled machine, and she’s so keen to do her thing that I have to store her in the fridge to slow her down, I thought I’d show you some of her first loaves (recipe and well illustrated steps thanks to Tartine). Even when my starter was working at her peak, each time I have made this bread it has turned out differently. Which is pretty neat when you think about it. Something that’s made from very simple ingredients that is directly affected by atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature. That uses those things to make a handsome loaf. Rather than have that scare you, you can learn to use it to your advantage. But that’s for another post. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labour. And maybe you’ll think about making your own bread from scratch? And using a starter? Pretty please? I would love to talk bread with you.

**I realize I have introduced thoughts, tastes, smells and terms that may be foreign to you if you haven’t yet gone through this experience yourself. Don’t worry, I will be breaking down the process and showing you how to do it, together, step by step (Ooh baybehhh, gonna get to you girrllll–sorry, couldn’t resist). 

**Also, I promised back when Little Miss Starter was born that there would be a naming ceremony. This is where I need your help. I need your name suggestions! My girl is earthy, strong, dependable. She also hungry, sweet and mild. Leave those name ideas in the comment section below and we’ll come to a decision together. Then we’ll celebrate. I’ll have to think of something really good to commemorate the moment.