The Great Pancake Cook-off

While we were all at the beach, we decided to have a pancake cook-off. Not any pancake cook off... but The Great Perdido Pancake Cook-off. We were hoping that our Dad would be the ultimate judge (he has the most experience with pancakes), but unfortunately he wasn't able to make it.

I knew ahead and packed accordingly. I planned to make my sourdough pancakes (knowing dad is partial to sourdough). I put the sourdough starter in a zip loc bag and packed the dry ingredients separately. A little butter and Aunt Jemima on top and they were fantastic.

My sister was a little more sneaky... I should have known when she was buying a pancake MIX, chocolate chips, coconut and almonds. I think her secret was the light Aunt Jemima syrup- at least that kept us from all going into a sugar coma. Her almond joy pancakes were announced the winner.

I hate to loose!

Just wait till next year...

Sandi

More Sourdough~

I tried out my Kudzu on some sourdough biscuits. The first batch was a little heavy and bland. I added some whole wheat flour and more baking powder in the second batch and they were much, much better.

This is the recipe I used, adapted from an old sourdough cookbook I picked up at the thrift store.

Whole Wheat Sourdough Biscuits

1 cup sourdough starter~ feed your starter the night before and let stand overnight

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 Tbs baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup butter

3/4 cup milk

Pre heat oven to 375°

Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add in milk and sourdough starter. The dough should be smooth. Knead onto a floured surface. Set aside and allow dough to rise. Press out to 1 inch thick and cut with a biscuit cutter. Bake 12-15 minutes until golden.

I am finding that using any recipe straight up is hard because my starter is very thin... not at all thick and bubbly like the starter I used to have. (This is a potato flake and sugar feeder). My 'kudzu' does work well, I just have to balance the liquids to find the right consistency. I haven't managed a loaf of bread yet. I'd love to get my hands on a thick sponge.

Y'all have any ideas?

Sandi

Sourdough Pancakes

Kudzu the sourdough starter has been growing in the fridge. After about 2 weeks I decided it was time to give it a try. My first attempt was the easiest of all... sourdough pancakes.

They turned out perfect. Just the right amount of sweet and sour, light and fluffy.

Sourdough Pancakes

2 cups starter

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 Tbs olive oil

Feed the starter the night before with kudzu food. Allow it to sit on the counter over night. The next day, take out 2 cups of starter and make the pancake batter. Feed the kudzu again before returning it to the fridge so it will be ready to go again.

Y'all enjoy,

Sandi

My secret~ Sourdough

I have been keeping a secret from y'all.

I have a sourdough starter!

I waited to blog about it because- to be honest- I wasn't sure it would work. I had a starter years ago; many moves, many years and it died. Since then I have tried to get a new starter several times. This is the first one that has survived the bread test.

This one seems to be working. I have named it Kudzu~ hopefully it will keep on growing. Maybe even be as hard to kill as kudzu is!

I got the starter from the Bread Bakers Forum. I started it several months ago. This is the recipe that has worked for me.

Sourdough Starter

1 pkg active dry yeast

1/2 c warm water to dissolve yeast

1 c warm water (some recipes call for more than 1 cup)

3/4 cup sugar

3 Tbs instant potato flakes

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water, then add with 1 cup warm water, sugar and potato flakes. Combine all ingredients in a glass container with a loosely covered lid. Let sit on the counter for 5 days. Stirring daily. Feed before putting in the fridge.

Kudzu Food

3 Tbs potato flakes

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

Before I use it I always feed it the night before with kudzu food and let it stand on the counter over night. After I take out for the recipe, I feed it again for next time.

It will be fun to explore all of the things I can make. If you have recipes, let me know! This starter is very different from my other, since it is potato flakes and sugar. There will be time of trial and error.

Bill loves that trial and error period!

Y'all stay tuned!

Sandi