Just a few days before the United States signed a treaty with Mexico for a huge portion of the western US, gold was discovered in the hills near Sacramento, California. This discovery led to the gold rush and the famous ‘49ers, making for bedlam in the un-governed territory. Californians quickly lobbied for statehood and after a year-long battle over the issue of slavery California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850.

Celebrate with a traditional staple for the ‘49ers, Sourdough Bread. You can’t make sourdough bread without sourdough starter, an ingredient that takes over a week to ferment.
Sourdough Starter
INGREDIENTS
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
2 cups all-purpose flour
DIRECTIONS
In large non-metallic bowl, mix together dry yeast, 2 cups warm water, and 2 cups all purpose flour and cover loosely.
Leave in a warm place to ferment, 4 to 8 days. Depending on temperature and humidity of kitchen, times may vary. Place on cookie sheet in case of overflow. Check on occasionally.
When mixture is bubbly and has a pleasant sour smell, it is ready to use. If mixture has a pink, orange, or any other strange color tinge to it, THROW IT OUT! and start over. Keep it in the refrigerator, covered until ready to bake.
When you use starter to bake, always replace with equal amounts of a flour and water mixture with a pinch of sugar. So, if you remove 1 cup starter, replace with 1 cup water and 1 cup flour. Mix well and leave out on the counter until bubbly again, then refrigerate. If a clear to light brown liquid has accumulated on top, don’t worry, this is an alcohol base liquid that occurs with fermentation. Just stir this back into the starter, the alcohol bakes off. Sourdough starters improve with age, they used to be passed down generation to generation.

Sourdough Bread
INGREDIENTS
4 3/4 cups bread flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk
2 tablespoons margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups sourdough starter
1 extra large egg
1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and dry yeast. Add milk and softened butter or margarine. Stir in starter. Mix in up to 3 3/4 cups flour gradually, you may need more depending on your climate.
Knead 8 to 10 minutes. Turn dough out onto a floured surface, and knead for 8 to 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turn once to oil surface, and cover. Allow to rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in volume.
Punch down, and let rest 15 minutes. Shape into loaves. Place on a greased baking pan. Allow to rise for 1 hour, or until doubled.
Brush egg wash over tops of loaves. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.