Adventures in Dough: My Sourdough Comeback Story

I think it’s safe to say my heart has always belonged somewhere between the kitchen and the chicken coop. Baking, raising chickens, dabbling in a little farming — if it involves homesteading or smells like fresh bread, I’m in. I’ve always believed in making things homemade and doing my best to recycle, reuse, and reduce (in that order… or maybe it’s reduce, reuse, recycle — I still mix them up, but you get the idea).

There’s just something magical about creating things from scratch. It’s a mix of chaos, flour clouds, and triumph — and even when it goes sideways, it’s still worth it. Which brings me to… my first attempt at sourdough.

Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned.

Actually, let’s be honest — I forgot about it completely. Somewhere around day three, that poor little jar of flour and water got pushed behind the milk, and by the time I found it again, it looked like something out of a horror movie. May she rest in peace, my first dough baby — gone too soon, covered in mystery fuzz.

Fast forward to now: both of my boys are finally in school full-time, which means for the first time in years, I can drink coffee while it’s still hot. With a little extra time (and maybe too much Pinterest inspiration), I decided to try again — and this time, it’s actually working!

Four days ago, I started with the basics: ½ cup of all-purpose flour and ½ cup of warm water. If you’ve never made a sourdough starter before, let me tell you — it’s basically a pet. You feed it, you talk to it, you cheer when it bubbles, and you panic when it doesn’t. And the number one rule? Don’t you dare put it in the fridge!

A happy starter likes to be cozy — think warm, not hot. The perfect spot is somewhere in your kitchen where it can sit undisturbed and ferment. The fridge is like sending your starter into a cryogenic nap. You want it alive, bubbly, and thriving, not hibernating next to the leftovers.

Your mixture should also be thick, smooth, and about the consistency of pancake batter. Too runny and it’ll struggle to grow; too thick and you’ll think you’re mixing cement. But once you find that perfect middle ground, magic happens.

And by magic, I mean bubbles. Beautiful, wild, yeasty bubbles.

By day three, my little jar of goo was alive and kicking, so naturally, I decided to make another one. Because if one starter is good, two must be better, right?

Thus began my dough family.

My first starter — the original diva — is Doughy Parton.

Her wildly ambitious offspring? Little Debbie Doughton.

And let me tell you, Little Debbie is an overachiever. She tripled in size overnight like she was training for a bread pageant.

Every morning now, I run to the counter like it’s Christmas morning, checking to see if my girls have grown. I swear, watching sourdough starters bubble to life is like watching a science experiment that smells delicious.

🥖 Fun (and Slightly Nerdy) Sourdough Facts:

• Sourdough is ancient. We’re talking 5,000 years old — the Egyptians were the OG bakers long before anyone thought of sliced bread.

• It’s alive! Sourdough doesn’t use commercial yeast. It catches wild yeast and bacteria from the air — which means your starter has its own “personality.” (So if mine starts singing Dolly Parton songs, it’s just the yeast finding its voice.)

• It’s good for your gut. The long fermentation breaks down gluten and phytic acid, making it easier to digest. So yes, it’s basically health food.

• Starters can live forever. If you feed it regularly, it can outlive you. Some families have passed theirs down for generations.

• Bubbles = happiness. When your starter doubles in size and smells slightly tangy, it’s alive and thriving. If it looks flat and smells like gym socks… maybe start over.

Today is day four, and both Doughy and Debbie are thriving like the queens they are. I’ll be feeding them bread flour to keep them strong, and tomorrow — deep breath — I’m baking my very first sourdough loaf.

Will it rise beautifully into a rustic masterpiece? Or will I end up with something heavy enough to use as a paperweight? Only time (and my oven) will tell.

But no matter what, I’m proud. Because this time, I didn’t forget. I cared for them, I watched them grow, and I learned that sometimes the best things in life — like bread, chickens, and patience — just need a little warmth and consistency.

And who knows? If all goes well, everyone might just be getting a loaf of homemade sourdough for Christmas this year. Because nothing says “I love you” quite like a warm loaf named after a country music legend.

So here’s to second chances, bubbly jars of joy, and the sweet smell of bread rising in a warm kitchen.

If you’d like to see how my first loaf turns out tomorrow, make sure to subscribe on the right! I’ve got lots more sourdough blogs coming very soon — because let’s be honest, I think I’ve officially caught the bread bug.