Mushroom

As previously mentioned, I have been terribly excited about making my first loaf of sourdough bread from the starter I began last week. Well...it left a little bit to be desired. The taste was delicious, and now that I think about it, the big problem was underbaking (which will easily be remedied when I invest my Christmas money in an instant read thermometer.)

But also, it didn't really rise...
Above are my first two loaves, not rising. Just sitting really.
After baking: a strange phenomena occurred. I'll call it the "mushrooming" of my sourdough bread.
The mushroom is plainly visible in this picture. The bread was still quite hot, which is why I'm holding it so funny.

So I don't know what exactly happened. Why did it rise like that? in the oven?

But I won't be deterred, there is a discussion forum on this recipe which I intend to read, and come next week we'll give it another shot. The important thing is, the boys ate it with delight (but I think they would eat any baked good with delight), and the underbaking will be compensated for satisfactorily with the toaster in the morn.