Day 5 ... a potential stall

so ... 2 days ago, the starter looked great. all bubbly and gurgly. yesterday, though, it started to flatten out, and this morning, i didn't see ANY action. did i kill it? is it sleeping? is it too cold in the house? Lord, save my starter!

i got bakey yesterday and made 2 dozen banana crunch muffins (courtesy of barefoot contessa and diabetes) and because we have no bread, i tried my hand at making bread, after a long hiatus (since college). i didn't even use the bread machine (which i'm just about ready to donate, in case anyone wants one). just my trusty stand mixer and king arthur's unbleached bread flour, and voila! the giantest loaf of challah in the WORLD. hideyo will probably post a pictures, but SERIOUSLY. it was GIANT. and it was damn tasty, if i say so myself. a very pleasing crumb, for you bread snobs.

if the sourdough starter survives, i think it's zampanos all the way. i think i have a newfound and even greater respect for sourdough goods at cheeseboard. whereas regular yeasted goods take an hour to proof (usually a double proof, so really two hours), any sourdough stuff takes at least 5 hours to proof. after you make the master sourdough recipe, which takes an additional 4-6 hours. YUK. and the cheeseroll recipe is so incredibly finicky that, kachiu, if you're reading this, i want you to know that i won't even make cheese rolls for your birthday. maybe your bridal shower, or as a wedding gift, but that is like 14 hours straight LABOR, man, for 12-14 cheese rolls?

NO WAY, JOSE. a mi, no me importa tanto. i'll just pay my $1.50 and buy one.