Findel,

It is possible to maintain the starter you make from the little
envelopes they send you - that was how I made my first starter. Now,
the flavour did change a bit after a month or so, but that happens to
starters in my hands.

You know how the directions call for making the sponge ahead of
time? I just took that sponge, and maintained it as my culture. It
worked nicely. I made bread off of the free starter sample I got for
several years.

I think that KA's main selling point for the packets is that give
you a very consistent nicely sour loaf if you use them as directed -
for people who only bake very casually, that is a big deal.

Anna



"findel" > wrote in message >...
> It certainly is not very clear. I would say it was downright deceptive if I
> didn't think it was probably written by some copywriter with no knowledge of
> what he was writing about. Your note about earlier catalog descriptions
> convinces me still further. I'll probably have to chalk this one up as one
> of life's little lessons. But I think I'll try to mix it with some homemade
> starter to see if I can get the taste I'm looking for and have it survive
> long term.
>