Recipe(tried): Real Sourdough Bread in a Bread Machine

REAL SOURDOUGH BREAD IN A BREAD MACHINE

I use the King Arthur Flour recipe, but I leave out their recommended instant yeast. They add yeast so the sourdough can be made using the bread machine French Bread cycle.

My starter is Carl's 1847 Oregon Trail sourdough starter, quite vigorous, and I use separate DOUGH and BAKE cycles on my Bread Machine. This allows the sourdough to rise at its own rate without using any added yeast.

I take the sourdough starter out of the fridge, where I store it in a mason jar, add a cup of starter to a mixing bowl, add 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 cup of bottled water. I use bottled water because chlorine in my tap water seems to slow the starter down. Add a little more water, if needed, so the mixture can be stirred with a wooden spoon. Mix well. Cover bowl and place in an OFF oven with the oven light on for warmth. Let it sit until it is bubbly and vigorous (maybe 4 hours). Stir it down and measure out 2 cups for the recipe below.

FOR 1 1/2-LB. LOAF:
2 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose or Unbleached Bread Flour (I just use any all-purpose flour that I have on hand).
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 cups active sourdough starter
1/2 cup lukewarm water (I use bottled water)

Place ingredients in bread machine in order given above.

Start bread machine on DOUGH cycle.

I use a rubber spatula to help the bread maker, if needed, for the first couple of minutes of mixing by pushing any dry lumps into the mixing blade. Adjust dough to proper consistency with more flour or water as needed to make a firm, non-sticky dough that could be kneaded by hand.

Let the machine bread machine complete its DOUGH cycle kneading (about 1/2 hour) and rise (about 1 hour more).

Immediately after the kneading stops, I remove the kneading paddle and press the dough evenly into the bottom of the bread machine mixing pan.

I now monitor the dough and allow it to rise to the top of the mixing pan (It takes about 2 or 3 hours).

When the dough has risen to the top of the bread pan, I start the manual BAKE cycle. My machine bakes the bread for 1 hour.

Remove from machine immediately, slice off fresh baked pieces, spread with butter and enjoy.

Makes one 1 1/2 lb loaf.

WHERE TO GET SOURDOUGH STARTER:
You can get free dried Carl's 1847 Oregon Trail sourdough starter for a self-addressed stamped envelope. An older gentleman, now passed away, maintained this sourdough starter that was handed down through several generations in his family. He would send out free samples. After he died in 2000, some of his friends continue to send out free samples if you send them a self-addressed stamped envelope. They also have an instruction sheet with recipes and how to revive the dried starter. The details are at CARLSFRIENDS.NET. Sourdough starter is also for sale from several businesses on the internet. Just do a Google search for "sourdough starter for sale".