Carbs Are My Cardio

In an earlier blog this year "Big Girl Panties" I promised to blog more frequently not just about my professional life and career, but also my lifestyle hobbies and the little things that bring me joy.

As you know I am a huge advocate for self care. Doing things that bring you joy and perspective and allowing yourself personal time for decompression. For most of my friends and peers working out seems to be the answer. While I value and appreciate to benefits of an active lifestyle, I have never returned home from the gym feeling great and smacked off my tits on serotonin and endorphins.

I'm just going to say it! "Carbs are my cardio" I challenge anyone not to feel better after a plate of Carne Asada Fries that is true serotonin soul food for real! In all seriousness though, about three years ago I started baking bread, and it is the single most relaxing, cathartic and magical hobby of all time. At first I was super discreet about my obsession because it really isn't the most cool of pastimes, and not something you brag about on dating profiles like paddle boarding or some other beach wave hipster fun factory activity!

I have learned though to embrace the qwirk and out myself to friends and family. There is something extremely satisfying about three or four simple ingredients coming together with a little science to create something different each time.

When I get invested in something I commit 100% to the rabbit hole, and bread making has been no exception. Its not easy, it take practice and there are a huge number of external factors that effect the outcome. (Kind of a life lesson I guess!) Even the smallest of things like the humidity of the day or tap water vs filtered water make all the difference. As with most things though the more you do it the more intuitive the process becomes.

Now 3 years on its less about the precise measurement and text book method. Now I have developed a feel for the dough and a knowing of when it is perfect.

My favorite bread at this point is Sourdough. It is a true labor of love. Even when I am not actively baking,I still tend to the yeast every day.

In order to make sourdough bread you need to have a 'yeast starter'. Most people ask professional bakers or someone further down the line to give them their first batch of starter. But you know me! I have to understand the ins and the outs and in order for me to do this properly I wanted to create my own yeast from scratch. Initially it is very frustrating and time consuming. Taking around a week before you can even think about baking your first loaf.

If you are interested though..... here is how you go about it.

(I think initially I found this method on the Breadtopia Website)

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour (I have also used a good quality all purpose)

Unsweetened pineapple juice

Purified water

Instructions

Step 1. Mix 3 ½ tbs. whole wheat flour with ¼ cup unsweetened pineapple juice. Cover and set aside for 48 hours at room temperature. Stir vigorously 2-3x/day. (“Unsweetened” in this case simply means no extra sugar added).

Step 2. Add to the above 2 tbs. whole wheat flour and 2 tbs. pineapple juice. Cover and set aside for a day or two. Stir vigorously 2-3x/day. You should see some activity of fermentation within 48 hours. If you don’t, you may want to toss this and start over (or go buy some!)

Step 3. Add to the above 5 ¼ tbs. whole wheat flour and 3 tbs. purified water. Cover and set aside for 24 hours.

Step 4. Add ½ cup whole wheat flour and 1/4 to 1/3 cup purified water. You should have a very healthy sourdough starter by now.

Whilst I don't want this to turn into a knock off Martha Stewart blog. It seems pointless for me to share why i love bread with you and not the process. If you are in need of some you time, and fancy your hand at sourdough then I will be sure to follow up with the fool proof bread recipe that is going to give you some awesome first time results!

Until next time stay fabulous!