Sourdough is something that feels old-fashioned, home-grown, and grounding. And it's actually much easier to create than many people make it out to be.
Ingredients
Wide-mouthed glass jar (quart or half-gallon sized)
Jar lid or tea towel
Wooden spoon
Wide-mouthed funnel
Unbleached all-purpose flour
Unchlorinated water
Instructions
Day -1
If you have city water, put some tap water in a bowl and leave it out in the open air for 24 hours to evaporate the chlorine. Or plan to use bottled spring water.
Day 1
Place the funnel on the jar. Add 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup water to the jar.
Stir with a wooden spoon.
Cover the top of the jar with a tea towel, or gently place the lid on top (don't screw it down). Leave the jar out of the way on the counter.
Clean off the wooden spoon RIGHT AWAY (do this every time you stir your starter... you'll thank me later).
Day 2
Add 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water to the jar. Stir. Set aside.
Days 3-???
Pour out some of the starter until you have about a cup left in the jar (this is what's known as discarding). It can go down the drain.
Add 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water to the jar. Stir. Set aside.
Repeat the discarding, adding, stirring every day.
Day 7-10ish
Celebrate when you finally have bubbles and a growing starter!
Keep discarding, adding, stirring.
Day 14+
You're finally ready to try some starter in a recipe!