Pam, there's no need to go back to the start with your sourdough baking! Many of these tips can be applied to the sourdough bread you already enjoy making. Feel free to pick and choose the methods that you find work best for you. Whether you choose all-purpose flour or bread flour will affect the structure and crumb of your bread, but other factors play into this as well, so it's not a hard and fast rule. I hope these new ideas and methods will encourage you to experiment and build on what you already know, rather than cause you to question your progress. A stiff starter is by no means a requirement for furthering your sourdough baking, but it might be interesting to give it a try and see how it works for you. Whatever direction you choose, we're here to answer your questions and help you succeed! Barb

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