The Hospitality of Homemade Bread
Welcome, Friend
There is something deeply satisfying about baking homemade sourdough bread from scratch. Whether you’re an experienced baker or making your first artisan loaf, few things compare to the aroma of fresh bread filling your home. The steaming warmth of bread is a sight and scent that can silence even the most crowded of rooms. There is something so special about the experience of eating freshly baked bread that was mixed, kneaded, proofed, and baked by your own hand— bread lathered in butter, perfectly salted. Bread is a vital component of any kitchen, transcending millennia, cultures, continents, as well as the brightest and the darkest of times.
This piece of culinary perfection is not only transcendent, but it provides a source of memories tied to our olfactory system. From the loaves your grandmother used to make to the scent of your favorite sandwich shop, this golden loaf helps us to recall the deepest of memories that help to form who we are. When I make bread, I not only think of memories long past, but memories I will share while breaking bread.
If hospitality had a scent, I don’t believe it would be the commonly symbolized pineapple. I think it would be fresh bread cooling on a wooden table while the evening light settles across the meadow. It is a culinary centerpiece that allows for memory creation as well as a reminder of where we come from. I’m always reminded that bread has long been used to symbolize the body of Christ. “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26, ESV). It is in Christ that we are a new creation, the weight of our sin has been removed by His loving sacrifice. Perhaps that’s why so much of Christ’s ministry happened around a table. Bread has always been about more than nourishment; it is an invitation to fellowship.
As we strap on our aprons and begin to bake, pray that God reminds you of all that He has done. Without further ado, preheat your ovens and dust your countertops, it’s time to make sourdough.
Easy Homemade Sourdough Bread Recipe (Dutch Oven Optional):
Ingredients: (Makes 1 Large Loaf or 2 Smaller Loaves)
800 g Bread Flour (All-Purpose may be used)
480 g Water, hot (Bordering boiling)
15 g Kosher Salt
200 g Active Sourdough Starter
2 g Avocado Oil
Directions:
In a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, combine flour, water, and salt until dough is hydrated, 2 minutes.
Cover the dough and allow to autolyse (rest to promote hydration) for 1 hour.
Remove cover and add active sourdough starter. Return to the stand mixer and mix for 10 - 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can do this by hand on a lightly floured work surface.
Cover the dough and allow it to bulk ferment for 2 hours.
Uncover the dough, shape it using your favorite method, and place into an avocado oil-lined tin (you may also use a floured banneton).
Cover the tins (or banneton) and proof for 2-4 hours at room temperature or 12-24 hours in the refrigerator.
After the dough has proofed, score the loaf as desired.
Place the loaf into a preheated, 450-degree Fahrenheit over for 10-15 minutes. Cover with tin foil and then bake for another 30-35 minutes.
Enjoy your time in the kitchen!
Until we meet again.
Your Friend,
The Shepherd of Wisping Meadow
P.S. If you have any questions about the baking process, leave a comment and I will respond as soon as possible.