Making and Maintaining a Natural Starter

Combine 1 teaspoon flour and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap (day 1).

After 24 hours or so, the starter suddenly froths up.

Feed the starter with another teaspoon of flour and another teaspoon of water, and cover with plastic (day 2).

The starter will froth up again (day 3); add 2 teaspoons flour and 2 teaspoons water (remove to a larger bowl if necessary). Cover with plastic.

Next day (day 4) stir in 4 tablespoons flour and 4 tablespoons water.

On day 5, stir in 8 tablespoons flour and 8 tablespoons water.

From day 6 onward, maintain (or “feed") the starter by throwing away half of it every day and adding 1 cup flour and 1 cup water (feed every 3 days if you are refrigerating the starter).