So Succulent Gardens

As parents we all heard it before ---- if you get me this new pup, kitten or bunny, I PROMISE,  I PROMISE I will take to care it every day - that last about a week. So maybe you should allow your kids to start out with a nice huge glob of sour dough starter, if they can keep the goo alive for six to eight months they may just be old enough. They only have to feed it every 7 to 10 days and
you never know they may find the gooey glob of dough is just the companionship they need.

Basic Starter Without Yeast:
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients. Place in a loosely covered container and refrigerate for several days until mixture doubles in size. This may take 4 to 14 days. When doubled, the starter is ready to use or store in the refrigerator. "Feed" once or twice a week with 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar.

Basic Starter With Yeast:
2 cup flour
2 cup warm water
1 pkg. dry yeast or 1 yeast cake

Mix all ingredients. Let stand uncovered in a warm place overnight or up to 48 hours. The longer the mixture stands, the stronger the ferment will be. After fermenting, the starter is ready to use or to store in the refrigerator. "Feed" as above.

Important to note:
Always start in a glass, pottery or plastic container.
Store the covered container in the refrigerator when the starter is done. The starter dough may smell quite sour and a liquid may form on its surface but this is normal. Stir the starter before each use. After using some of the starter, always leave at least  1 cup of starter.  To keep indefinitely, feed the starter every 7 to 10 days. Do not use the starter for 24 hours after "feeding".