WobLog

We have a new pet, our Mother Sponge, which we've named Nancy Pelosi! I started her yesterday, and she bubbled into a nice, fresh sourdough starter sponge right on time. Tonight I pulled a baby sponge off Nancy and started to prepare to make a loaf of sourdough. Tomorrow morning I'll be able to mix all the ingredients, and I'll probably be able to start baking around 8 P.M. tomorrow night! I'd be able to start around 6, but going to church is going to set me back on my time a bit.

I had no idea making sourdough was so amazingly complicated. Nancy Pelosi will require twice daily feedings (or at least once daily) while we make her ever more sour, and she needs to be kept at a constant, warm, temperature that is warmer than we keep our house. Right now we're keeping her in the oven with the oven light on and the door closed. So far, she seems to like it. Eventually, when she's really sour, we'll put Nancy in the refrigerator and feed her only once a week, or more often as we make loaves of sourdough bread from her.

I don't know how long we'll keep Nancy around. We're enjoying the science experiment, but she's very high maintenance. And if we go on a trip, I'll either have to find a Mother Sponge sitter or, gasp, let her die! I'll keep you posted.