Day: January 27, 2025

Baking with Dough-na-tella: The First Loaf Adventure

The moment I’ve been waiting for finally arrived—Dough-na-tella and I teamed up to bake our very first loaf of sourdough bread! After days of feeding, watching her grow, and whispering words of encouragement (okay, maybe just in my head), I was ready to see if my bubbly starter was up for the challenge.

The Preparation:
The process began the night before with a simple sourdough recipe. Mixing the dough was therapeutic—flour, water, salt, and of course, Dough-na-tella’s magic. The dough had this wonderfully sticky texture that hinted at all the potential hidden inside. After mixing, I let it rest and worked in a few rounds of stretch-and-folds, marvelling at how it began to come to life.

See the video for ALLLLLL my stretch and folds. It took me ll day to get the stretch and folds just right!

By the time I set it aside for its overnight rise, I was buzzing with anticipation. Would it double in size? Would it be airy and light? I could barely sleep thinking about how it might turn out.

Baking Day:
Morning arrived, and when I peeked at the dough, it had risen beautifully—puffy and full of life. After shaping the loaf, I gave it one last proof and preheated my oven (and trusty Dutch oven) to lava-like temperatures.

The moment I slid the dough into the oven was surreal. I scored it with a quick slash, held my breath, and waited. The house began to fill with that warm, heavenly scent of baking bread. When I removed the lid to check on it, there it was: my first loaf, golden brown and proud.

The Results:
The bread wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. The crust was crackly and had that satisfying crunch when tapped. The crumb was soft and slightly open, with just enough chew. And the flavour? Tangy, rich, and full of character, just like Dough-na-tella herself.

There’s something so rewarding about slicing into a loaf you’ve made from scratch. Sure, it wasn’t bakery-level, but that only makes me more excited to keep improving. This first bake with Dough-na-tella is just the beginning of what I hope will be a long and delicious friendship.

Lessons Learned:

1. Patience really is key. Letting the dough rise fully was worth the wait.
2. Don’t worry too much about being perfect, everything seems to work out if the fundamentals are followed.
3. A razor-sharp lame (or scoring tool) makes all the difference for those gorgeous loaf designs.
4. Celebrate the imperfections—they’re part of the journey.

I can’t wait to try another bake and experiment with new flours, hydration levels, and maybe even some fun add-ins like seeds or herbs. If you’re on a sourdough journey too, share your tips or favorite recipes—I’m all ears (and still a little flour-covered).

Here’s to many more loaves with Dough-na-tella! 🥖✨

Edited with the help of my personal Assistant “Chatty” (Chatgpt)

Dough-na-tella came to life a few days ago, just a humble mix of flour and water. Since then, I’ve been obsessively checking for signs of life—bubbles, a slight rise, and that tangy, yeasty aroma. And let me tell you, she’s got personality!

For this first feeding, I removed half of her to make room for fresh flour and water. The math part wasn’t as intimidating as I thought: equal weights of flour and water to keep her balanced and happy. I opted for a mix of unbleached all-purpose flour and filtered water, as every single video I watched on this has stated to use filtered water.

After gently mixing everything together, I placed her back in her cozy jar and set her in a warm spot beside my fire place overnight. She responded wonderfully to her meal and is finally ready to bake with in the morning!

For my first time using her I made sourdough pancakes, I got the recipe from a friend who shares a love of sourdough. The Best Sourdough Pancakes I highly recommend them! They were divine! My family devoured them.

This process feels so much like nurturing a tiny, doughy pet—it’s oddly therapeutic. I’m already daydreaming about the breads, pizzas, and maybe even cinnamon rolls that Dough-na-tella will help me create.

Stay tuned for updates from this sourdough adventure. Next up: testing her strength for the first bake of bread! 🥖

Do you have any tips for keeping a sourdough starter thriving? Let me know—I’m all ears (and flour)!

Now that she is alive, I find it hard to put her to sleep in the fridge. Will she be ok?? Send me some tips on how to do this process well, so I can kick-start her for her next bake.

(edited with the help of my personally assistant “Chatty” AKA Chatgpt, love her)