Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1/4 cup water
1 cup sourdough starter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream shortening with sugars. Add egg and water. Beat until light and fluffy. Add sourdough starter, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and flour. Mix well. Add rolled oats. If desired add raisins and nuts. Dough will be thick. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Dough usually bakes better if it has been slightly chilled first. It keeps it from spreading out too much while baking. This recipe is also good with chocolate chips in place of the nuts.

Sourdough Peanut Butter Brownies

1/4 cup shortening
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup sourdough starter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Melt shortening with chocolate over low heat. Blend in sugar and peanut butter. Add eggs, sourdough starter, and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. Spread in greased 9x9 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until done.

Sourdough Applesauce Brownies

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sourdough starter
2/3 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs, sourdough starter, vanilla, applesauce, and milk. Mix together dry ingredients and stir into creamed mixture. Stir in chopped nuts. Spread in greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until done.

Sourdough Blonde Brownies

1/2 cup sourdough starter
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg and sourdough starter. Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to sourdough mixture along with the vanilla and nuts. Spread into a well greased 8" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until done. Be careful not to overbake.

Sourdough Pancakes

Mix together:

1 cup sourdough starter
1 cup flour
1 egg
2 Tablespoons oil
1/4 cup evaporated milk

Blend in:

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons sugar

Let mixture bubble and foam for a minute. Drop by spoonfuls onto hot griddle.

Quick Sourdough Bread

2 cups sourdough starter
1 teaspoon dry yeast
3 Tablespoons warm water
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 Tablespoons powdered milk
2 Tablespoons melted shortening or cooking oil
3-4 cups all-purpose flour

Measure out sourdough starter. In small separate bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. Add to sourdough starter along with the sugar, salt, powdered milk, and oil. Mix well. Slowly add the flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl (it may not take all of the flour so it's very important to add it gradually). Turn out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if necessary. Shape the dough and place in a well greased loaf pan. Cover with a damp cloth and set in a warm place to rise until it is doubled in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until done. Makes one loaf.

Sourdough Refrigerator Biscuits

I learned how to use sourdough starter years ago when my two oldest were just toddlers. I had some sourdough starter given to me at that time and had no clue how to use it for anything other than the Amish Friendship Bread recipe that was going around and was all the rage at the time. So I called my grandma and she quickly gave me all sorts of tips for using it and some recipes as well. I confess I don't know how to make starter myself, I've always gotten it from someone else. If you do a google search on how to make it, there are lots of pages that will pop up.

The most important tips for working with sourdough starter are to 1.) not use any metal on it. Only use non-reactive utensils such as plastic or glass. 2.) If your kitchen is 80 degrees or above, keep it in the fridge.

1 package dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
6 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening or margarine (I use butter flavor Crisco)
2 cups sourdough starter
2 cups buttermilk

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Set aside for 5 minutes. In large mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in dry ingredients. Combine sourdough starter, buttermilk and yeast and add all at once to the dry ingredients. Stir only until well moistened. Place in large greased covered plastic container. Refrigerate.* Use when needed. Dough should remain good for 3-4 days. Carefully roll out on a well floured surface to 1/2" thickness. Cut into biscuit shape. Place on lightly greased baking pan with sides touching. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until done. Makes 4 dozen biscuits.

*dough should be made at least 8 hours before needed so that it has time to rise.*