Joan's Sourdough Bread

Sourdough is the oldest and most original form of leavened bread. The early settlers from Europe brought with them their cherished sourdough starters. It has been said that Christopher Columbus had a crock of sourdough aboard ship when he first came upon North America. Sourdough became a legend during the California gold rush. Even though commercial yeast was around, it was scarce and chuck wagon cooks and prospectors had to use the old method of sourdough baking to feed themselves and others. Prospectors were known to take their starters to bed with them to keep the yeast warm---and alive. The story of sourdough is an old one, but the truth is that sourdough bread is good and good for you. The next time you bite into a piece of sourdough bread, remember it's not just bread, it's also a piece of history.