Anja, Petra beat you to it again. Yes, Lievito Madre is a sourdough starter that’s low in acidity and rises well. It’s also great for baking sweet treats.
The whole process is a bit more involved, but once you get into a routine, it goes pretty smoothly.
It’s a bit like a Tamagotchi—it always wants attention 😉.
Petra, I’m baking the recipe from “Hefe und mehr”—the “Christmas Stollen with Sweet Starter.” Except I’m replacing the raisins and candied orange peel with mixed dried fruit; we prefer that. Thanks to the different dough stages, I can make a larger batch, though I’ll definitely have to refresh my madre twice beforehand—I’ve really neglected it these past few weeks.
The last few loaves were a bit too sour, so I don’t want to start anything sweet with it.