Full of tons of information, both on making/maintaining sourdough starters as well as making the actual breads. Step-by-step detailed instructions walk you through every step.

This was a very well written cookbook. I found the layout to flow well and the recipes were easy to understand and follow along to. I look forward to trying some of them out for my family.

Starter Sourdough: The Step-by-Step Guide to Sourdough Starters, Baking Loaves, Baguettes, Pancakes, and More by Carroll Pellegrinelli is a cookbook to get readers started to more creative bread. For perfect sourdough bread, you need a healthy and happy starter—that yeasty concoction that gives sourdough its tangy, delicious flavor. Starter Sourdough helps you get the tricky starter process down pat, so you can have mouthwatering loaves, rolls, baguettes—and even cakes and cookies! This guide simplifies the process of making your own starter so it’s accessible to anyone, no matter your skill level. Keep your tasty new creation alive and thriving with the help of clear instructions accompanied by beautiful photographs. Then try your hand at baking Perfect Italian Sourdough, Sourdough Marble Rye Bread, Double Piecrust, Sourdough Pretzels, Sourdough Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnuts, and more.

As someone that had a cinnamon 'friendship' bread starter ruling her kitchen for years I initial dreaded the idea of another starter in my house. As much as everyone loved that bread, there just was not enough variety and I could just not stand to eat anymore of it. Starter Sourdough is the book that broke me of my fear of starters, and got me cultivating a new batch because of the versatility of this stuff. The fact that I can freeze it for later use, or even dry it, means that I am less likely to become overwhelmed with the amount of dough in the house, and makes my prep work for my big holiday baking sprees so much easier.

I found the instructions and explanations to be very easy to follow and well organized. I like that there was so much room for customization- such as changing types of flour for flavor or diet restrictions. I cannot wait to try out the Roasted Garlic Sourdough and the Honey Oatmeal Bread, as well as the more traditional loafs. However, I am very excited to give the sweeter recipes a go once my starter it ready, like the chocolate chip cookies, cheese and garlic and cheese bialys, and pretzels.

Starter Sourdough is a book I would recommend adding to your kitchen library for anyone interested in working with a sourdough starter. I see much weekend baking in my future.

I read through the whole introduction and glanced over the recipes. They look amazing. You do need a scale for the ingredients which I don’t have so I wasn’t able to make anything. That said the author pointed out the importance of a weigh scale so I know not to jump in with my measuring cups instead.

I’ve been wanting to try my hand at sourdough for awhile. I’ve already been making a breadin5 dough but was missing the sour kick of a good sourdough. Right now I’m trying to limit my bread consumption and don’t have a weigh scale but this book is at the top of my buying list for when either point changes.

This is a very easy-to-use book on the topic of making sourdough starters and then various breads. It differs in many of these types of books in that the author is more thorough and has quite a few options for the unique problems that people have with making sourdough. E.g., I have always had trouble making bread rise or making starter because I live in a cold area and it is hard to find warm areas in my house that I can leave the bread. Her solution was to put the bread in an oven with the oven light on - this typically leaves enough warmth to make the starter happy but not enough to kill/bake the bread or starter.

The first part of the book is all about the starter - ingredient suggestions, preparation, feeding, care, and then storing (you can even freeze it!). Then next part of the book gives various recipes with a reminder that not all sourdough bread actually tastes sour (though that's what I like best in it).

I am always reminded of how the miners in the gold rush in San Francisco kept the starter warm and happy - strapped to their skin so it always stayed warm. We've come a long way since then and I've read several books on this subject - this is one of the best I've read. It's far more nuanced and really keeps the reader in mind rather than just telling us what to do. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I have an honest confession. I have tried time and again and never successfully made edible bread. Admittedly I am impatient and for some reason can never achieve a bread that rises and is fluffy and delicious. It is an evolution in patientience and trying not throwing up my hand and saying I can't do it I'll just go buy bread and stop stressing myself out. But in my quest to be healthy admittedly one of the worst food choices is store bought bread... So again I take up up shield and proclaim I can do this... I requested this book for the shear purpose of self torture for a skill I want to conquer. With all that said here goes...

So my biggest fails have been the starter l barely know what I want for lunch most days so planning bread baking has proven difficult. I decided to do this so I needed to be realist. When Do I actually have time to make bread? Probably not during the week I'm to busy. I also never failed to properly nourish my starters I'd forget about them...

I have chosen because I'm remedial to go small and picked recipes that had simpler starters with weekly feedings that I can add to my morning Saturday routine. I've also discovered this author encourages trying different flours and grains. Y'all this may sound simple but has been a game changer for me. It's not this way or the highway and when experimenting and the tip of keep a bit of the original starter so your not back to square one has saved my sanity (did I mention bread making has always stressed me out because I'd invest all this time into a glorified doorstop. Or as my children love to tease a handy apocalyptic weapon). I love that once the starter is on a regular feeding schedule it can be converted to different flour types.

Game Changer #1 you can freeze or dry your starter... WHAT and thank you!!! This one thing alone has made this doable because people I can barely keep house plants alive. Her recommendations for calendar reminders work great for me.

I have mainly been using the refrigerator to store my starters because you have no idea how many times the kids have dumped out a starters claiming they found some disgusting concoction sitting out... When I tell them it was a bread starter the next words out of there mouth is I'm glad I dumped it out. I won't eat anything derived from that. Did I mention they have no faith in my ability to make bread... Also as previously mentioned I dont really have the time or desire to fool with it except on weekends.

Game changer #2 and maybe it was me but never did I use a thermometer to proof the dough. It makes total sense but was never in other instructions from friends that tried to convert me to the joy's of bread making. Nor did it occur to me to proof it in the oven to better control the temperature

Game changer 3 sourdough doesn't have to be sour it is dependent on the flour and feeding schedule. There are also other handy tips in this section. As I mentioned above the tips for consistent environments for rising has also really helped because I know inconsistent temperature has been a big problem for me.

It's still an ongoing evolution for me and I need a ton more practice. However, moving to this isn't bad (from this could be used as a deadly weapon in the apocolose) is a huge accomplishment for me. Kudos to the author for making it possible for even me to successfully create bread
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

I've been making bread for quite a few years now, but sourdough has been one that I have always been a little afraid to try, but my husband keeps asking! When I had the chance to review this book, I had to jump on it. I thought maybe now is the time. This book has so many great suggestions and techniques. She has great instructions that really give you a good guide to go by. I can't wait to get my starter going and see what I can do with her guidance. I would definitely recommend!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

mmmmmm sourdough bread
What a fabulous book ! I love the way it is set up. Clear easy instructions, colored reminder boxes, advice for alternatives, and a huge selection on recipes that go beyond just breads. I have a lot of bread books sitting on my shelf and none are as clear and easy to use/reference as this one. I have been buying dried sourdough cultures from San Francisco for years, trying to keep my cultures alive was challenging. I thought I knew what I was doing but my past education missed a couple easy important steps, steps the author easily explained. I'm so excited to start my own culture now. I'll be getting it going right after I finish this.
The recipes, I have highlighted almost everyone. Simple recipes that will impress everyone even yourself (toughest critic). I'm starting out with the Sourdough Rosemary bread and the Sourdough Naan as soon as my culture gets funky enough. My holiday gift giving list has several spots filled with sourdough goodies too.
I was asked by a reader if there was a high altitude adjustment for the recipes, sadly not in the version I read. It would be fantastic if it was added in because high Altitude folks need sourdough love too.
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review by the publishers

I am an accomplished bread baker but have never tried sourdough. My grandson has requested I start a sourdough mother to add the wonderful flavor and texture that can be accomplished when you go sourdough....his term....let's go sourdough! Carroll Pellegrinelli sets an excellent road map for anyone looking to add to their bread skills. I've started my starter, now we'll see if my results can rival hers. Bread baking is an excellent activity to share...try some today.

I've been an amateur bread baker for a long time, but recently I've started trying to step up my game. This book came along at the perfect time and not only helped me with my bread techniques, but also helped with some ideas with what to do with my discarded starter. I have so many new ideas after reading this and tips on how to help make my bread baking better. The step by step was great and easy to follow. So many sourdough books are so complicated that it's almost impossible to know what to do. I can't wait to bake more!

I've been intrigues by the idea of sourdough since the 70's. I haven't braved up enough yet to try it, however. I know one needed a starter of sorts, but thought I had to buy the starter, or find get some from someone who already had some and would share! Well, this book enlightened me. Starter can be made and started at home! I used to bake breads from scratch, just not sourdoughs. I might just try some of these recipes over the winter when I'm in the mood for baking again! I like that the author guides us bakers step by step through the process of making the starter and then using the starter to bake breads. That makes me feel a bit more confident in having a sourdough bread turn our well! Happy baking everyone!

I have tried doing a sourdough starter over the last 30 years. I have tried my own, bought the starter from a local health food store and was never really successful in keeping it going. I love to make my bread, I have to use my bread machine now that I am disabled.
Hubby and I enjoy sourdough bread and we don't have a good bakery here in our small town. This book will help me get started.
Chapter one is starting your starter, with starter ingredients, and step by step instructions, by day. You will learn what to do on what day to keep the starter growing. It gives you an idea of what flours to use like flaxseed, pumpernickel, rye or wheat flours.
Chapter two is a guide for preparing your kitchen with what equipment is needed. There are also a few bread recipes in this section. Part two in this section has recipes for rustic and artisan loaves.
The next section is for enriched flours, whole grains and specialty bread such as artisan apple bread, sound good? I thought so too.
Chapter five is for pan loaves and sandwich bread, chapter six is for sweets and treats for a leftover starter. Did you know that you can use the sourdough starter for anything you would use flour for? I did not know that. You can make waffles, pizza dough, doughnuts, and a holiday fruit loaf.
What do I like about the book? The recipe for starter is lengthy and you have to maintain it daily, easy instructions for the starter and the recipes. I like that each recipe has not only prep times but it lets you know what equipment is needed.
I am excited to use this book to start my sourdough starter. Maybe I can get it right this time!