Any Home Bakers Here?

[BullChick]

It worked! I got fluff and I got popping bubbles.

Thank you everyone for the ideas and feedback!
@ronott1 for the suggesting the ACV that I swapped out for lemon juice.... @Blooie for grasping at those straws and helping me understand temp variations.....@BullChick for convincing me that my starter would survive my cooler kitchen.... @topochico225 for slapping some chemistry on me.... @cavemanrich for the encouragement...and @Sally PB for being my GF enabler.
And thank you to all those not mentioned, everyone's feedback and encouragement was terrific.

Still can't believe it worked! I've been baking GF for many many years, but never thought I could start a GF SD starter from complete scratch!

For those who are following the play by play-
Bonny Sour- the oat/rice one.... DOA!
Well, at least I learned what a good SD starter should NOT smell like.

Lad - (and all his kids) The rice only with a bit of lemon juice- Fluffy, bubbly, wonderful!
Almost ready to do a loaf of bread.

Quincy the Cheater - Rather fermenty smelling, but in a good way. Smells like a strong mixed drink.

...give me another week and all this annoying enthusiasm will wear off, promise.

Bubbles! Bubbles! Oooh, buuuuubblllllles!

 

[BullChick]

Say, “bubbles!” as angrily as you can. It still sounds fun!

 

[TurkeyTheQuail]

Say, “bubbles!” as angrily as you can. It still sounds fun!

I just tried.. it's impossible!!

 

[SnapdragonQ]

@Sally PB , you mentioned a juicer I think that you grind your rice and oatmeal with...is that a stand alone unit? A Kitchenaid attachment?

@ronott1 ... I think it was you that mentioned your flour mill? Maybe Bruce or RJohn...sorry, I forget who..
I'm not able to afford one right now.
Any thoughts about a decent burr mill grinder? I'd be looking to grind millet, brown rice, and maybe sorghum. Rolled oats I can do in a food processor.

 

[ronott1]

@Sally PB , you mentioned a juicer I think that you grind your rice and oatmeal with...is that a stand alone unit? A Kitchenaid attachment?

@ronott1 ... I think it was you that mentioned your flour mill? Maybe Bruce or RJohn...sorry, I forget who..
I'm not able to afford one right now.
Any thoughts about a decent burr mill grinder? I'd be looking to grind millet, brown rice, and maybe sorghum. Rolled oats I can do in a food processor.

I have the kitcnenaid attachment. I works well for the cost and dies use steel for the burrs. I have ground oats and it did make a nice flour. I have also ground corn along with wheat grains.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Home Bakers. I bow to GF folks I can start sourdough from scratch. So thankful daily none of us are
so afflicted.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

@rjohns39 ...it was you I was talking with about your Wonder Mill vs the Kitchenaid attachment. Sorry I named ronot1 instead.

In looking at Burr Mills, and how many people have successfully used them for small batch flour grinding, I was wondering your thoughts? Given that coffee beans are a bit oily, and the flours and spices dry.

Some are flat burr grinders like this

Others are conical burr grinders like this

A third or half the price of the KA attachment and no matter what I use, I know it will make a mess. I'm thinking the things I plan to grind will be softer than coffee beans, but I don't know.

Having never used any type of home mill, only a tiny blade type coffee grinder before, I'm wondering your thoughts?

 

[rjohns39]

I use this to grind spices: https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-El...50818&sprefix=coffee+grinder+mr,aps,98&sr=8-5 It's about half the cost of the one you picked and might be good to see if that style works for your needs. If it does, then upgrade and use it for spices. If not, then you know without spending a lot. I've never used my steel heads, always used stone.

 

[BullChick]

Using a 4# can, I made a double loaf of bread. I set the oven to 375*, and the bread took just over an hour to reach 165*. I only kneaded it once, and the can is dusted with cornmeal.


This thermometer has a temperature alarm. It was crucial for this experiment.

 

[Sally PB]

My juicer is a Champion, older model. I bought it from a friend for $50. She had the grain mill attachment with it.

I already had a juicer, but I knew these were good, and I couldn't pass it up at the price. It was DH who reminded me that it had a grain mill attachment when I started talking about grinding my own flour. So it was just a really lucky thing for me.

It looks like this. I have no idea what these sell for. Way more than $50, I'm sure.