How to raise a loaf and fall in love with sourdough

Book excerpt: How to Raise a Loaf - All you need to become a master sourdough baker! How to raise a loaf and fall in love with sourdough is a new accessible guide to bread baking by amateur baker Roly Allen. Want to learn to bake bread without over-complicated recipes and pages and pages on kneading technique? This new book makes the key techniques of traditional baking easy to understand, with step-by-step photo instructions and a simple overview of the magical processes that turn wild yeasts into a living baker’s starter, and a bowl of flour into a glowing crusty loaf. Recipes include rye loaves, sourdough pizza, grissini, rolls and more, as well as suggesting surprising flavours (think chocolate, tomato, olives and linseed) to incorporate into your sourdough bakes. You don't need to be an expert baker to make your own sourdough at home; though once you’re hooked, and want to get fancy, the book will tell you what lames, bannetons, brushes and stones to invest in. Sourdough is one of the biggest stories in food, with a whole generation converting to the rich flavour of the bread. In How to Raise a Loaf, Roly Allen promotes the health benefits of this probiotic bread, as well as the mindful quality to baking; "With music on in the background, and no goal in mind other than the loaf you’re working on, it is easy to slip into a state of mental 'flow', when you don’t notice time passing, your worries slip away, and mind and body become deeply relaxed. When times are bad, this mental and emotional reset is better than anything." The small format and clear instructions make this the perfect baking guide for beginners!