Last week, my colleague Gail Tomarchio wrote about mindful walking.  My topic is about making a sourdough starter. And it is about all the baked goods that come from the starter.  All this good food is one more reason to take that long, mindful walk.

My sourdough starter was born out of a need for a leaven.  There was none to be found in my grocery store thanks to Covid-19. So when the internet was flooded with bread and sourdough starter recipes I figured, why not?

Sourdough starter requires daily maintenance, including discarding excess starter. I felt guilty wasting the food, so I began baking crackers every night. Then came the loaves of bread, bagels, pizza dough, pretzels and biscuits.

Meet “Helen” and “Helen’s Sister”

I named the starter (Helen). The more I baked, the more there was to bake. Soon I had a second starter going, (Helen’s Sister), and more baked goods than my household could eat.  Why did I name my starter you may ask?  Turns out it is common practice.

Seeking a shared experience with family and friends — all this baking provided the perfect opportunity. Each week a handful of households receive contact-free, porch deliveries of sweet and savory baked goods.

The sourdough starter began as a way to fill a need: I love baking and couldn’t find my usual ingredients at the store. It quickly turned into much more: a part of my new daily routine, a stress-reducer in a anxious time, and most importantly a way to connect with loved ones.

I used the DIY information from thekitchn.com for “Helen” in the link below.  But there are many other versions online which you can check out to find your own favorite.  Leave a comment – let us know how your starter is going.

How to Make Your Own Sourdough Starter

(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

Courtney Feild, BFA, MS

Technology Marketing Manager

Courtney joined the Friends Life Care sales and marketing team in 2018. She brings many years of experience with creative ideas that sell, customer engagement and marketing technology for both nonprofit and for profit organizations.

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Temple University and completed her graduate degree in Arts Administration. When not baking up new strategies for the Friends Life Care team, Courtney can be found in the kitchen or spending time with her husband, children and pets.