Meet Tina from Stretch and Folds

I'm a mother of two, balancing work and a passion for sourdough baking, committed to providing my family with nutritious meals that align with our busy lifestyles.

Living in Europe, I often struggle to find reliable sourdough baking information online. Adding to the complexity, many American recipes call for ingredients like "all-purpose flour" or "bread flour," which may not align with what's readily available in our region. I aim to help with ingredient choices, substitutions, and overall sourdough baking guidance.

(However, if you're American, please don't click away! I believe there's even more to gain from sharing our diverse approaches to sourdough, even when our methods vary slightly.)

I provide measurements in both cups and grams, along with detailed step-by-step instructions. This way, you can easily follow the recipe, no matter where you're from.

This led me to develop my personal approach to sourdough baking, which, in my view, is even more straightforward than most. It's a laid-back method with a focus on baking delicious, homemade bread for my family to enjoy every day!

Real, Traditional Sourdough Bread

I always had a certain curiosity about how simple foods can transform into a wholesome meal you can make to nourish your family. Since discovering the beauty of sourdough, that fascination only continued to grow.

I started experimenting with kefir and yogurt and learned about fermenting all kinds of things. I was surprised to learn that the art of sourdough and fermenting is nothing new in Europe, and sourdough baking quickly became one of the most important staples in my kitchen.

Sourdough recipes are the heart of this blog. I also love to share sourdough discard recipes because it's amazing what you can do with it.

Why Stretch and Folds?

Stretching and folding my dough is my therapy, my way of providing quality bread for my family, and (hopefully!) something I can share and inspire others to try!

The inspiration for all the recipes I share comes mainly from the unique mix of my country's culinary traditions: Slovenia borders Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary. I always joke that we took the best dishes from each of those countries, and I still think it's true.

Start by making your starter from scratch, use it in a basic bread recipe and you'll find yourself on the point of no return. Adding batch baking sourdough bread to your schedule can be simple and doable, even for the busier people.

I make sure I only post our tried and true recipes that won't disappoint you, I promise!