English Muffins and Baltimore

I was so glad my sourdough starter peaked when it did.

Hubby is a big fan of all Boston sports and we took a trip to Baltimore
for the Redsox / Orioles game. We had a blast. There are a few pictures of Baltimore at the end of
this post. I have been to Boston but it was my first visit to Baltimore.

I knew if my starter didn’t peak it would lay without a feed for several
days.

I couldn’t wait to get back from our trip to try the English Muffins
Blue Zebra posted.
Recipe Link

I tried to do my own English Muffins many years ago when I ran my
Bed & Breakfast. I used Julia Child’s recipe. It was a flop and got thrown out.
I am sure it was my fault and not Julia’s recipe but I never ventured into
English Muffins after that again.

I can say that this recipe was great. I am older and wiser than
when I tried years ago so that could have much to do with it,
but I am so glad my starter can make such wonderful English Muffins.

I did have to finish off in the oven like Blue Zebra suggested.
The finished product would have been too dark if I had done it all on the
stovetop.

English Muffin Photos

English Muffins

Coffee & Cornbread McMuffins

Baltimore Photos

View of ESPN Sports Bar and Hardrock Cafe from the Bay

View of Baltimore from the Stadium

Boats docked in the Bay

The scoreboard

Meet Lurch

Meet Lurch.

Lurch

Lurch is my pet/sourdough starter. I named him Lurch because he had to
lurch around my kitchen a while to grow.

As I contemplated self sufficient ways, the thought of bread making
throughout the centuries came to mind.

One did not throw in a packet of yeast each time they
made bread but relied on sourdough starters.

This was right down my ally since ..

1- self reliant ways are a goal of mine
2- no need to keep buying yeast ( at least not as much… But I
must have some on hand for emergency situations -
example..Forgetting to set Lurch out to proof in time?) so that cuts supermarket time and cost

I scoured the net for sourdough starters and began my own
pet/starter.

Now this bread site I used told me to start Lurch with just warm water
and flour. It said it was simple. They also said to consider your starter a “pet” hence the name.
I fed Lurch and watched Lurch.

After about a week Lurch certainly smelt sour but was too
lazy to use. A bubble here and a bubble there did not in my
mind seem worthy of bread.

That was when I, being tired of feeding a seemingly border
line pet/starter, gave Lurch a boost with some yeast.

My gosh.. There are tons of sourdough starters out there that
use a boost of yeast or yogurt for the culture.

I felt like I was cheating a bit but once Lurch jumped into
activity I no longer felt so bad.

Here is my first Lurch inspired bread
and Lurch is still alive and well in the fridge for next time.
I believe he will make an awesome pizza crust too.

Lurch inspired bread

Lurch inspired bread with salad

Now all I do is remember to feed him once a week and remember to
set him out to make sponge when needed.

One more mark toward self reliant ways.