How many of you have met Herman? You know, the sourdough bread starter? Herman is currently growing and bubbling in our kitchen, and we've been enjoying some really tasty baked treats like rolls, cinnamon buns and coffee cake.
I'm enjoying Herman so much, and I hope he stays with us for a while. He has his own little apartment in the refrigerator, and he only eats every three days. What a wonderful boarder!
To start your own batch of Herman: (There are many variations on this recipe - you can do a search online to find all of them)
1 pkg. dry yeast
1/2 c. lukewarm water
2 tbsp. sugar
2 c. warm water
2 1/2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
3 tbsp. instant potato flakes
1 c. warm water
Cooking Directions: Mix yeast with 1/2 cup warm water. Mix sugar with 2 cups warm water and flour. Add yeast mixture. Place in glass jar covered with a clean cloth and let stand for 5 days at room temperature. It should be foamy and have a yeasty aroma.
Starter Feed: Put the initial sourdough starter in refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Take out and feed with this mixture:
1/2 c. sugar
3 tbsp. instant potato flakes
1 c. warm water
Mix well and add to starter. Leave starter out of refrigerator all day (8 to 12 hours) or until very bubbly. Remove 1 cup to make bread and return remainder to the refrigerator. Keep in refrigerator for 3 to 5 days and feed again. If you are not making bread after feeding starter, throw away 1 cup of the mixture, but it may be fed two to three times before using for bread. This is to avoid depleting your starter.
5 comments:
Hee hee... that picture made me laugh. Herman is still alive in our house too; he in fact enjoyed a lovely breakfast of potato flakes and sugar, washed down with some water, this morning, and is currently snuggled up in his bowl, under his paper towel blanket, digesting said breakfast. He has given us some very yummy cinnamon rolls, cinnamon-raisin bread, and dinner rolls these past few weeks.
Actually, I'm trying to decide if I should let him back in my house. When he was here some years ago, he tried to take over my time. But, then, maybe it was just the way I tend to feel about those things. Actually, he's a very good wintertime visitor and I am tempted to let him visit soon,we'll see.
Ooooh, I am so going to try this! I just got an Amish Friendship bread starter (again) which I love, but I didn't know how to make Herman for sourdough - Kev loves sourdough! Hooray! Thanks for sharing!
(Beka, you are so funny!)
I really like Hermann, but last time I invited him over, he has been living in my freezer with his 2381 (roughly estimated) sons and that got a bit out of control :-)
But I am sure that it's not the last time I ever invited him. There is also Robert (he's a bit more mature - a real man's bread).
That's funny-I've never heard of 'Herman' :) But, that's sounds so fun and so yummy-I might just have to try it! Where do you find the recipes for making all of your bread and rolls with it?
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