"Just learning the art of bread making and how easy this book makes it."

The kitchen timer chimed at 6:30 AM, and Christi Morrison padded barefoot across the cool tile floor to check on her overnight sourdough. Steam still rose from the golden loaf as she turned it out onto the cooling rack, and for a moment, she just stood there marveling at what her hands had created. Six months ago, the idea of baking bread from scratch would have felt as foreign as speaking a new language.

At Lay It Flat, we believe the right book at the right time can transform not just a skill, but an entire relationship with creativity and nourishment. Christi's journey with "Sourdough Every Day" by Hannah Dela Cruz exemplifies this perfectly: showing how accessible, practical guidance can turn an intimidating craft into a source of daily joy. Her simple review caught our attention because it captured something essential: the relief of discovering that something you've always wanted to learn doesn't have to be as complicated as you feared.

The Woman Who Fed Everyone

Christi is the kind of woman who keeps granola bars in her purse for other people's kids and always brings extra to potluck dinners. At 44, she's mastered the familiar routines that keep her family of four running smoothly. Still, somewhere in the comfortable efficiency of feeding her family, she'd lost touch with the joy of cooking.

"I used to love being in the kitchen," she admitted to her sister during one of their weekly phone calls. "But now it feels like I'm just going through the motions. Everything comes from a box or a bag. I miss making things from scratch."

The Spark That Started Everything

The catalyst came during a weekend visit to her neighbor Janet's house. Christi had stopped by to drop off a borrowed book and was greeted by the most incredible smell wafting from the kitchen, with fresh sourdough bread cooling on the counter.

As Christi bit into a still-warm slice slathered with butter, something shifted. This wasn't the dense, heavy bread she associated with homemade loaves. This was light, tangy, with a crust that sang when you tapped it.

"This is incredible," Christi said.

"How hard is it to make?"

Janet laughed. "That's exactly what I thought before I tried it. I was convinced I'd kill the starter or ruin every loaf. But honestly? It's more forgiving than I expected."

Driving home with a small jar of Janet's starter and basic instructions scrawled on a napkin, Christi felt something she hadn't experienced in years: excitement about cooking.

The Search for the Right Teacher

Christi spent a week reading blog posts, watching YouTube videos, and browsing sourdough forums. The information was overwhelming and often contradictory. Some sources made baking sourdough sound like an exact science requiring precise temperatures. Others treated it like an ancient art requiring years of intuitive practice.

"I just want someone to explain it to me like I'm a complete beginner," she confided to her husband one evening.

That's when she discovered "Sourdough Every Day" by Hannah Dela Cruz. The book promised guidance for both beginners and experienced bakers, with over 55 recipes that went beyond basic bread. Learning that Hannah was the founder of Make It Dough, a Saveur award-winning sourdough blog, and a self-taught home baker herself sealed the deal.

"Finally," Christi thought, "someone who understands what it's like to start from scratch."

The Book That Changed Everything

When "Sourdough Every Day" arrived, Christi was immediately drawn to its practical design. The spiral binding meant she could lay it completely flat on her counter—invaluable when her hands were covered in flour and she needed to reference techniques.

Hannah started with the absolute basics, walking through creating and maintaining a starter with detail that anticipated every beginner's question. "She explains why you do each step, not just what to do," Christi noted after her first week. "It makes the whole process feel less mysterious."

The step-by-step photographs were another revelation. Unlike glamorous baking books, Hannah included images showing what dough should look like at various stages—crucial for someone learning to read visual cues.

The First Loaf and Early Victories

Christi's first attempt at Hannah's Basic Sourdough Bread was both terrifying and exhilarating. She followed instructions meticulously, barely sleeping during the overnight fermentation as she checked on the dough like a nervous parent.

When she pulled her first loaf from the oven, the crust was golden and crackling. The crumb was open and tender with just the right amount of tang.

"I made this,"

She whispered, holding the warm slice up to the morning light. "I actually made this."

Her family was impressed, but Christi was already thinking about her next loaf.

Beyond Basic Bread: Discovering Discard Magic

One aspect of Hannah's book that truly set it apart was the focus on using sourdough discard by turning what many bakers saw as waste into delicious opportunities.

Christi started with Sourdough Pancakes, a weekend breakfast that quickly became a family favorite. "These taste like something you'd get at a fancy brunch place," her teenage daughter Emma commented. "Can you make these every weekend?"

The Sourdough Focaccia became her go-to for dinner parties, while Sourdough Crackers were perfect for afternoon snacks. Each successful recipe built her confidence and expanded her understanding of how sourdough worked.

The Transformation: From Follower to Creator

Three months in, something remarkable happened. Christi stopped being precious about following recipes exactly and started trusting her instincts. She began adding herbs to her basic bread, adjusting hydration based on the weather, and creating her flavor combinations.

The spiral-bound format proved its worth daily. "I don't baby the book anymore," she laughed when Janet commented on its well-loved appearance. "It's a working book, meant to be used. The spiral binding means I can use it while I'm baking."

Her kitchen began to smell different: richer, more alive. Her family started timing their arrivals home around bread schedules, drawn by the aroma of fresh loaves.

Becoming the Neighborhood Baker

Word of Christi's sourdough success spread through her social circle. Friends started asking for tips, requesting loaves for special occasions, and wanting a starter of their own.

"I never thought I'd be the person people come to for baking advice," Christi mused one evening. "Six months ago, I was intimidated by making bread from scratch."

She started sharing the starter with friends, along with photocopied pages from Hannah's book. Her kitchen island became an informal teaching station where curious neighbors would stop by to watch her shape loaves.

The transformation wasn't just about bread. It was also about reclaiming creativity and accomplishment in her daily routine.

Lessons Learned and Wisdom Earned

"Just learning the art of bread making and how easy this book makes it," Christi reflected in her review. Looking back, she realizes Hannah's approach demystified what had seemed impossibly complex.

For anyone considering sourdough, her advice is simple: "Just start with a good teacher, and don't be afraid to mess up. Hannah's book assumes you're a complete beginner and builds from there."

She emphasizes the importance of having a book you can actually use while baking. "The spiral binding isn't just a nice feature: it's essential when you're trying to follow techniques with floury hands."

Most importantly, Christi learned that sourdough isn't just about bread. "It's about slowing down, paying attention, and creating something nourishing with your hands. There's something deeply satisfying about a process that takes time and rewards patience."

Your Own Sourdough Story Starts Here

Christi's transformation from bread-making novice to confident home baker illustrates the power of accessible, thorough guidance combined with practical design. Her journey reminds us that the skills we think are beyond our reach might simply need the right teacher and tools.

If you've ever been curious about sourdough but intimidated by the process, Christi's experience shows how a well-designed book can bridge the gap between curiosity and competence. The spiral-bound format that made such a difference in her learning reflects our commitment to creating resources that work in real kitchens.

Ready to discover what "easy" bread-making can look like in your own kitchen? Explore "Sourdough Every Day" and other spiral-bound cookbooks designed to lay flat, stay open, and support your journey from curious beginner to confident creator.