For many of us, summer means less time at home, less time in the kitchen, less time cooking, and much less time baking. We’re all busier with kids home from school, travel, family in town, plus it’s just so darn hot. And this summer has been a real scorcher so far. Of course I’m cooking and baking all year long because I love it and because it’s my job, but my rhythms definitely shift in the hotter months. We’re making quicker cooking, stove-top meals with plenty of cool, crisp salads and fresh fruit on the side. You will often find my husband cooking on the Blackstone or smoking meats outside to keep the kitchen cool and mostly clean (bless him).
Despite the heat, yes, I’ve still been baking sourdough. I make a loaf of my Artisan Sourdough Bread a couple times a week because it’s a staple. Malcolm loves a good old pb&j on it lately and the baby loves gnawing on the chewy crust with his teething gums so we really fly through it. And I’m recipe testing all year long, no matter what the weather is doing, so that I can always bring you fresh, new recipes. So my oven never really gets a break, but I’m definitely more conscious of how much I run it this time of year.
But for those days you simply cannot bear to turn on the oven, you still have options to get sourdough bread and other treats on the table. My two favorites are Sourdough Discard English Muffins and Soft Sourdough Flour Tortillas (I’m working on a naan recipe which is also great for a no-bake bread option). The English Muffins have been the top recipe on my site for a couple years now (I also have a Cinnamon Raisin version) so go give them a try if you haven’t already.
Note: There is an optional baking time if you make extra thick English muffins like I often do. But if you want to avoid it either make them a bit thinner or just keep them in the skillet, covered, for the extra 5-10 minutes on a lower heat and flip them often so they don’t burn on one side. And keep in mind, English muffins are meant to be a bit moist and undercooked inside after griddling because they technically finish cooking when you split and toast them (I learned this from Dorie Greenspan years ago - isn’t she the cutest?)
And let’s not forget Sourdough Pancakes, Sourdough Waffles, and Sourdough Crepes. All three of these recipes can be made with active starter or unfed (discard) starter straight from the fridge - makes no difference. Waffles can make delicious sandwich bread if you leave out the vanilla and add some herbs, seasonings, and/or a handful of cheddar or parmesan right to the batter.
I encourage you to think outside the box (and by box I mean oven) this summer. If you’ve been ignoring your sourdough starter because you just can’t stand to heat up the kitchen, give any of these stove-top sourdough options a try. Use the English muffins or waffles to make sandwiches, the tortillas or crepes to make quesadillas, wraps, breakfast tacos - get creative and stay cool!
And for a really fun and very nostalgic no-bake sweet that doesn’t involve sourdough, make a batch of my husband’s favorite childhood treat Classic No-Bake Cookies. Mine are a little different than most as I use real chopped chocolate and I have a white chocolate and dark or milk chocolate option. You can substitute almond butter or sunflower seed butter if you’re allergic to peanuts.
Top Ten Recipes This Week
Sourdough Discard Crackers (with olive oil, rosemary, and parmesan)
Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls (same day or overnight)
Sourdough Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns (quick discard or long-fermented with active starter options)
How to Make a Sourdough Starter (easy beginner’s guide)
take me to wild thistle kitchen
I’ve been working behind the scenes on some new content I’ll be sharing to my substack in the coming weeks. I’m excited to announce I’ll be offering paid subscriptions again, as I’ve had several questions about it and even a few pledges which is just so kind. I will still offer my free newsletter every week, but in addition I’ll offer some exclusive sourdough content for paid subscribers. A detailed video tutorials library, printable guides, deep-dive discussions and q&a’s, etc. I’m still working out the details, but I’ll let you know as soon as it’s all ready.
Thanks so much for being here. - Anita
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