About

Susan Welcome to my kitchen! If you love to bake bread or want to learn more about it, I hope you find something interesting or useful here, or have something to share with me.

What is Wild Yeast? One meaning is the yeast that makes sourdough, which I bake with often, but not exclusively. To me, though, baking with all kinds of of yeast, sourdough or not, is “wild:” outrageous, amazing, magical. Read more about why I bake.

I have been baking bread since I treated myself to a short artisan bread class on my birthday in 2006. (Why yes, that was my 29th birthday!) Since then I have been learning about baking from lots of sources: from classes at the wonderful San Francisco Baking Institute; from reading everything I can get my hands on, in print and online; from other home bakers at online communities such as The Fresh Loaf; and from my own trial and error.

When I’m not baking, I can be found working as a nurse practitioner in a community clinic, doing crossword puzzles, reading novels, and eagerly anticipating the next presidential election.

I live in northern California with two magnificent kids and a terrific husband who acts like he doesn’t mind that there’s always flour all over the kitchen. I think they like my bread. I also have a cat and a dog, and I know they like my bread.

Thank you for visiting Wild Yeast!

Susan

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Post a comment » 20 Comments

  1. Alan Woods August 21 2007 at 12:05 am 1

    stumbled across the blog; currently in Japan visiting US Navy daughter and husband and their new-born daughter; will try to find Japanese bread, although we’re on an Air Force base in Misawa and thus surrounded by American things, Have been doing sourdough rye and ryeblends for a while, and while they’re tricky, they’re also rewarding.

    cheers–

    Alan

  2. Susan August 22 2007 at 06:10 am 2

    Alan, thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your time in Japan. A new granddaughter is just the best reason to be visiting — congratulations!

  3. subfuscpersona August 24 2007 at 06:33 am 3

    Yours is the best bread blog bar none.

    I also avidly follow your posts on http://www.thefreshloaf.com

  4. Susan August 24 2007 at 10:04 pm 4

    Subfuscpersona, I am honored, thank you.

  5. Doughman September 17 2007 at 05:33 pm 5

    Hi Susan,

    Just stumbled upon your site. I think it’s nice that you have a blog dedicated to wild yeast. It’s the one that deserves the credit for giving the bread the rise and that special taste. Keep up the good work..from one fellow SFBI alumni to another SFBI alumni.

    Doughman

  6. Susan September 17 2007 at 05:56 pm 6

    Hi, Doughman! I’m glad you stumbled upon me and I hope you continue to enjoy my blog. Thanks for saying hello.

  7. Jeremy September 20 2007 at 05:39 pm 7

    Interesting stuff, just was passing through while browsing and bookmarked your site waiting to see more bread!

    Cheers
    Jeremy

  8. Susan September 22 2007 at 06:01 pm 8

    Jeremy, thanks for stopping by. I’m enjoying listening to the baker interviews on your site!

  9. Woods November 28 2007 at 08:31 am 9

    Hi, I found your signature on fresh loaf and you’ve done a great job!. I making semolina bread today as I volunteered to bake bread for six months for the winners of a silent auction to benefit homeless shelters. I want to commend you for putting on the book contest and encouraging people to donate to one of the worthy causes. Woods

  10. polly December 13 2007 at 01:04 pm 10

    hi, just found your site, it was wonderful to see someone who cares about the quality of the breads, as much as i do, i also went to sfbi, they are very good people there, i could tell by the way your breads looked, keep writing , i enjoy your site, thank you

  11. Susan December 23 2007 at 08:24 am 11

    Woods, what a generous donation!

    Polly, thanks for the comment. I agree, SFBI is the best!

  12. Erin January 13 2008 at 01:55 pm 12

    What a cool website! I just started to learn to bake bread this past fall after someone generously gave me a cup of sourdough starter, and I’ve really enjoyed it, but I have a lot to learn still. I might just add your blog to my regular reading list!

  13. Watch January 14 2008 at 08:56 am 13

    Hi Susan.
    Thank you for your much needed info.
    About a week ago or so, I stumbled in to your blog. I just read and read some more. I found myself came back again for seconds. In short I love the way you write.
    But this weekend some thing wonderful happened.
    I love to bake my usual authentic Ethiopian bread (Abesha dabo) with sourdough and a bit commercial yeast, of cours I use all barley flour and baked covered with banana leaves, that way I got the real abesha dabo falvour and down the memory lane.
    So I started mixing things , and all of a sudden I started using some of the thechnics I read from your blog. It was not like I tried to remember it and applied it but it was in me and suddenly I knew what to do.
    Was a really good feeling, of being confident in my baking experience.
    Thanks again

    Peace

  14. Susan January 14 2008 at 10:11 am 14

    Erin, I’m glad you stopped by and I’d love for you to become a regular reader. Good luck with your bread baking!

    Watch, I’m really glad if I’ve been able to help. Thanks for sharing that with me.

  15. mayumi January 15 2008 at 10:25 am 15

    Hi. I just moved to San Diego from Tokyo 2 months ago, and am already missing Japanese style pastry. I brought a bread machine which can make mochi. I will try your melon pan recipe! I am really impressed how they look. Yummy!! I will stop by again.

  16. Susan January 16 2008 at 01:04 pm 16

    Hello Mayumi, welcome to California and to my blog! I will be interested to know what you think of the recipe.

  17. David Aplin April 16 2008 at 05:30 pm 17

    Hi Susan, Great to finally see a face to match the superlative breads and outstanding formulas. I agree with subfuscpersona… best bread blog bar none. You’re the go-to girl when it comes to presentation, fermentation and inspiration!
    Rock on,
    David

  18. farida April 28 2008 at 11:41 am 18

    Susan, thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog. I am glad you left it because it traced me to yours, which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED! What a beautiful blog! Great recipes and pictures. I love baking bread, too (although only with a few recipes I know:) and I am sure I will turn to your blog a lot for inspiration and for great recipes! I am subscribing to your and adding you to my blogroll if you don’t mind!

  19. Ellen May 28 2008 at 05:07 pm 19

    Love your site and want to make your ciabatta recipe, wondering about conversions I am from US. Thanks.

  20. E L R A July 1 2008 at 03:42 pm 20

    Susan,
    I love making my own bread, its become part of my rutine. I am so happy to found your website (through Astrid/lacerise).

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