I did it.
I can’t believe I did it!
I made my first-ever homemade loaf of sourdough bread using a starter I started (is that how we say it?) two weeks ago.
There are too many photos I want to share, so I’m just going to make a little gallery:
My mess of a kitchen. 
After first stretch and fold. The only shot I took of the process. 
Pulled it out of the oven in awe! 
OMG! 
First cut. Crumb looked good to me, but I don’t know what I’m doing. 
I made The Husband and Egg Sandwich 
Grilled Cheese on Homemade Sourdough! 
I also made pancakes with the discard!
Again, I forgot to take photos of the process. I was too into what I was doing, but when it came out, I was picture-happy!
I can’t describe how satisfying this whole process was. I love to cook, but baking has always seemed daunting to me. It’s too specific, and I get overwhelmed reading the recipe. When I cook, on the other hand, I just cook. It’s all instinct, taste tests, and feelings.
This whole sourdough experience has taught me that baking can be more “organic,” too. After all my research, I realized that once you understand the science of it, you can riff, get creative, and go with your gut, which is precisely how I like to cook!
Needless to say, I’m hooked. I plan on keeping doughbra alive on my counter for the time being. I can see myself baking at least weekly. I already made pancakes, am working on some baguettes, and I made crackers yesterday.
I told you, I’m hooked!
All the Food
The sourdough wasn’t the only food accomplishment I had this week.
After blogging last week, I made seared tuna and drizzled the Thai Peanut Sauce over it. It was delicious!
I used the leftover dressing for my lunch salad the next day. This is canned chicken over mixed greens, cucumbers, and scallions with Thai Peanut Sauce used as a dressing.
The next day, I made ANOTHER fried rice dish with The 13-Year-Old.
He’s obsessed, but it’s an easy way for me to get him involved in making dinner.
The 19-Year-Old made us dinner the next night, and it was fantastic!
He brined, dredged, and fried chicken breast pieces to make sandwiches on Brioche buns, cole slaw, and all!
We made sweet potato fries and bacon green beans as sides. This was a great dinner! And thankfully, we had some leftovers for me to make another salad for lunch!
I cut up one of the chicken breasts and made a honey mustard and Sriracha dressing to drizzle on top. I swear the chicken was better the next day.
Saturday, I experimented with some fresh pasta for a ravioli dish I’m making next weekend for a Valentine’s Day dinner party.
I’m glad I ran through my idea, as I learned a few things I will change when I make them again.
My other success in the kitchen this weekend was my cast iron pizza for the Super Bowl.
I didn’t use sourdough for this, but I plan to in the future. I used traditional yeast this time and let it rest in the fridge overnight. I used this recipe, which I highly recommend!
Other Happening This Week
I did get a little painting in following a fun idea from @dearannart.
I also “hired” The 19-Year-Old to fix the hole in my ceiling!
He’s just about done, and it looks great. I’m so proud of him. He watched a few online videos, went to the store to get a piece of drywall, and then got to work (after some coaxing from me).
2025 Goal Check-in
I’m going to end this post with an update on all my goals and this picture of my current situation.
These two have kept me company all day while working from home. We had a snow day here in Maryland, and it’s been nice.
- Blog Weekly.
- so far… ✔️
- Paint More. Don’t overthink it.
- so far…✔️
- Make a new handmade pasta monthly.
- Jan ✔️ ✔️
- Feb (Made ravioli this week!)
- Hike at least twice a month.
- Jan ✔️
- Feb (didn’t go yet. 🙁
- Perform one unassisted dip.
- Down to the ORANGE BAND!!
- Perform five strict pull-ups.
- Training!
- Handstand walk.
- Training!
- Take at least three yoga classes a month.
- Jan ✔️
- Feb (Went on Sunday.)
- Make homemade sourdough bread.
- ✔️✔️✔️OMG I did it!✔️✔️✔️
- Take the kids to Iceland (planning is in the works!).
- Plane tickets bought!! We land on my Birthday!
- Fix the holes in my house (long story, lots of plumbing issues this year).
- Two holes down, two to go!
- Continue my Spanish Streak on Duolingo (I’m on day 1,231!!).
- so far…✔️ day 1273!
- Take a Spanish class in person.
- Class starts in two weeks.
- Plan something special for The Husband’s 50th birthday!
- Had a few ideas, starting to research!
- Snatch 125lbs.
- Training underway!
- Compete in at least one weightlifting meet.
- no progress
- Walk a minimum of a half-mile daily with Marsh and, preferably, with the Husband, but I can’t base my goal on him.
- 39/43 days so far this year.
- Track my movie-watching on Letterboxd.
- so far…✔️ – Click here to see!
- Keep my citrus trees alive! (I have a lemon and a lime tree I named Laverne and Shirley. Laverne is not doing too well after a disastrous root rot issue this fall, but we are doing our best.)
- so far…✔️ OMG I forgot about them, off to check after I post.
- Host an extended family dinner monthly.
- Jan ✔️
- Feb – Schedule for Sunday!
- Clean out and organize my closet and drawers.
- no progress.
- Thrift more and purchase no brand-new clothes.
- so far…✔️
- Take daily supplements more consistently.
- so far…✔️ keyword “more,” I’ve missed a few days
- Reduce alcohol consumption to once or twice a month.
- Jan ❌ 1/18, 1/23, 1/31 (close!)
- Feb 2/1
- Cook one new recipe/dish a month.
- Jan ✔️
- Feb ✔️
3 replies on “Sourdough Success!! (w06)”
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I’ve always marvelled at how much you love to cook- and I have such a hard time understanding why people like it so much. (Cooking, not your food. Your food looks amazing in the pictures.). But I think you’re right about the exactness of baking. I don’t want to taste things or change the recipe too much- I like to follow the rules and then eat the results! But it’s neat to hear that you’ve found a form of baking that is more your style.
And I don’t understand anyone who wants to follow a recipe. It feels so restrictive and overwhelming to me. lol