I have baked sourdough for several years using the same recipe and method, but after being influenced by all the new sourdough books, posts and how-to-videos I have started to experiment a little more. If you have tried your hand at maintaining a starter and baking sourdough, you are probably very much like me in thinking “I can do better.” We have many sourdough books to choose from here at the library. I encourage you to check some out and give sourdough a try for the first time or maybe change up your baking with some new techniques. I do feel compelled to warn you though…. baking sourdough bread is addicting!

Here are a few of our most recent sourdough books:

“Sourdough Cookbook for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Introduction to Make Your Own Fermented Breads” by Eric Rusch (641.815 Rusch) has simple instructions and tutorials to help you get started. Rusch launched Breadtopia.com in 2006. Be sure to check it out!

If you think baking sourdough is too complicated or time consuming, Vanessa Kimbell has you covered with “10-Minute Sourdough: Breadmaking for Real Life” (641.815 Kimbell). With only 10 minutes of hands-on time you can have a delicious loaf of bread baking in the oven. Kimbell gives you many timesaving tips to speed things along.

Hannah Dela Cruz shares many unique recipes using active starter such as Mexican Hot Chocolate Rye Loaf and Sweet Potato-Cardamom Rolls in “Sourdough Everyday: Your Guide to Using Active and Discard Starter for Artisan Bread, Rolls, Pasta, Sweets and More” (641.815 DelaCru), but the part that interests me the most are her recipes for using your leftover starter discard. I’ll definitely be taking a look at them.

Coming in January is “Sourdough Bible: Ultimate Resource for Great Bread at Home” by Elaine Boddy. “The only sourdough book you will ever need.” If you would like to take a look at it, give the library a call and we will get you on the hold list. You can also place holds by visiting www.newulmlibrary.org and choosing “Library Catalog.”

Happy New Year!

New Ulm Public Library is located at 17 North Broadway and is open from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday-Saturday. The library closes early at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, and is closed on Wednesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day.