Unknownchef86s Bread Starter Recipes

AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD STARTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
• On days 2 through 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 through 9; stir only.
• Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

SOURDOUGH STARTER

Steps:

• Day 1:To begin your starter, mix 50g flour with 50g tepid water in a jar or, better still, a plastic container. Make sure all the flour is incorporated and leave, semi-uncovered, at room temperature for 24 hrs.
• Day 2:Mix 50g flour with 50g tepid water and stir into yesterday's mixture. Make sure all the flour is incorporated and leave, semi-uncovered, at room temperature for another 24 hrs.
• Day 3:Mix 50g flour with 50g tepid water and stir into yesterday's mixture. Make sure all the flour is incorporated and leave, semi-uncovered, at room temperature for another 24 hrs.
• Day 4:You should start to see some activity in the mixture now; there should be some bubbles forming and bubbling on top. Mix 50g flour with 50g tepid water and stir into yesterday's mixture. Make sure all the flour is incorporated and leave, semi-uncovered, at room temperature for another 24 hrs.
• Day 5:The mixture should be very active now and ready for making your levain (starter). If it's not bubbling, continue to feed it on a daily basis until it does. When it's ready, it should smell like yogurt.
• You now have a starter, which is the base to the bread. You'll need to look after it, but naming is optional! Keep it in the fridge (it will stay dormant) and 24 hrs before you want to use it, pour half of it off and feed it with 100g flour and 100g water. Leave it at room temperature and it should become active again. The longer the starter has been dormant, the more times it will need to be refreshed - the process of pouring off half the starter and replacing it with new flour and water - to reactivate. If your starter is ready to use, a teaspoonful of the mixture should float in warm water.The starter can now be used to make white sourdough bread.

UNKNOWNCHEF86'S BREAD STARTER

Steps:

• Stir the yeast into the flour til well-mixed.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour-yeast mixture and sugar into the water til thoroughly incorporated.
• Store in a glass gallon jar to allow room for fermentation (it will bubble up). Cover top with cheesecloth to allow for ventilation.
• Stir down occasionally with a wooden or plastic spoon -- don't ever use metal utensils or containers.
• Refresh the batter at least once a week with 1/2 cup water and 3/4 cup flour. If necessary, you can refresh it every three days.

SPONGE STARTER

Steps:

• Place the yeast and warm water into a medium size bowl and stir to dissolve the yeast. Add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or your hand for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth, and dough is elastic. The starter will be thick and stretchy. It will become more elastic after it has risen.
• Scrape the starter into a clear container with high sides, and cover with plastic wrap. Mark the height of the starter and the time on a piece of tape on the side of the container so you can see how much it rises.
• At this point, you have two options. If you plan on making the dough the same day, let the sponge rise at room temperature until it has risen to the point where it just begins to indent on top. This may take 6 to 8 hours. It will triple in volume, and very small dents and folds will begin to appear in the top of the surface as it reaches its peak and begins to deflate. Use it before it sinks too much.
• If you plan to make the dough the following day, let the sponge rise for 1 hour after mixing, then place it in the refrigerator and let it rise for at least 14 hours before taking it out to use. Be sure to compensate for the cold temperature of the starter by using warm water in the dough. Let it sit out, covered, until it reaches room temperature. This may take several hours.

UNKNOWNCHEF86'S VERY BEST DINNER ROLLS

Steps:

• Note: Due to its sticky nature, this recipe is best made in a standing mixer with a dough hook; the truly persistent could probably make this by hand with a bowl and a wooden spoon-- these rolls are worth the extra effort.
• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk and let sit for approximately 5 minutes to proof.
• Add sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, salt and eggs; mix well.
• Add flour and mix well.
• Blend at medium-low speed for about 5-10 minutes, scraping down sides once or twice.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a towel; let rise in bowl about 1 hour or til doubled.
• Remove the towel and plastic wrap and turn mixer on low to"punch down" the dough; if you wish, you can let the dough raise a second time as it makes for a more flavorful roll.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 36"plops"; The dough will be very sticky.
• Place"plops", edges just touching, in a buttered 9x13 baking pan; don't bother trying to smooth out the"plops"-- they will smooth out as they raise.
• Cover pan with plastic wrap and let rise til doubled, about 30-40 minutes.
• Melt the reserved butter and drizzle over the top of the rolls before baking.
• Bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes or until golden.