New Here, from upstate New York!
Hello! My name is Sarah LuAnn and I hail from upstate New York! (Not the city, folks ;-)
I've dabbled in baking bread for years, but recently was given some sourdough starter by my grandmother. She isn't much of a baker, but found that she could eat sourdough despite her gluten sensitivity, so she was excited to share with her baking granddaughter. I'm more interested in sourdough because it's delicious, the health benefits are just an interesting aside.
I decided to finally join this forum after using a few sourdough recipes from here, which turned out amazingly well. I made fish 'n chips and onion rings with sourdough batter (not on the same day) using a recipe I found here, and have a batch of sourdough crackers rising right now, also from a recipe I found here.
I've baked several successful loves (and a few bricks), and I'm eager to learn more about how to improve my bread.
Welcome, and as you probably know by now, Floyd Mann is our host. We look forward to your posts.
Ford
Thanks! I think I'll mostly be reading and learning, at least to start.
Welcome, I am also from upstate.
Hows about that weather, huh? Good excuse to stay home and bake ;-)
Welcome to the site. You will love it here? How far Upstate do you live? I'm from the Albany, NY area which they call Upstate too. I now live in GA
I'm just a short drive away from Albany, maybe a half our drive. Longer with the weather being what it is! :-) I've only been here for a few months, I grew up in Utah.
What City in Upstate NY do you live. Schenectady, Troy, Selkirk? Any of those cities. Anyway, hope you enjoy The Fresh Loaf.
We're in Niskayuna. Just renting for the time being, but we'll be looking for a more long-term place soon.
I grew up in Clifton Park.
Small world sometimes!
-Dave
I just took a peek at your page - you're a long way from home, no?
I lived in Northern California and Phoenix for awhile and I have to say I really miss the desert and arid spaces. I love the "big sky" and being able to see the horizon and the unfettered landscape.
There are a few things I miss about upstate NY, but one thing I don't like about the east coast is the closed-in feeling I get from the trees. Ironic I guess since my childhood was largely spent doing forest-type-stuff.
Maybe one day I'll get a winter home down in the Southwest and turn into a snowbird.
-Dave
The closed in feeling is a definite thing. Its not so bad for me, the worst part is I feel like it messes with my sense of direction. Of course, I grew up in a city that was built deliberately on a grid system (as were most of the cities in the surrounding area) with very big, tall mountains making it clear which direction was East/West etc. People out here say, "We have mountains!" and I tell them they don't count if I can't *see* them. ;-) If I can't see them, they're just hills.
Despite having a hard time getting around, we've enjoyed it here so far. We don't know how long we'll be here, it depends on how much my husband likes his job--I work from home so I'm flexible. This also makes it easier for me to bake bread, I can just let it rise while I'm working. :-)
I know the area well. Nice place to live. I'm sure you will find what you are looking for.
We like it so far, even though its only been a few months.