I haven't tried it myself yet, but you can get yeast improvers , a powdered 'mother yeast' that claims similar results to sourdough.
I have a starter in the fridge that I only use once every two or three weeks, and have not had any mould problems; perhaps you just have to be only a little less lazy to keep a viable one, and feed on that sort of a schedule?
I agree though, that making sourdough bread can be a nuisance time-management-wise until you find some sort of rhythm that suits you.
While living in Southampton and working at a local newspaper, photographer Rachel Adams, to her delight, discovered a new generation of Morris dancers performing at pubs, events and festivals. The fresh choreographed figures jumping up and down to music, clad in costumes covered in bells, and waving handkerchiefs and bashing sticks sparked her curiosity. She wanted to know more about what these young people found so intriguing about this English folk tradition, which usually has a bad reputation.
I can't go on. I'll go on.
(Samuel Beckett)
I think it's a very good idea, and I can't see any obvious disadvantages except, perhaps, the loss of posting and comment history from the currently existing communities.
Maybe also consider merging [email protected] ? That one seems to be quite general too, and posts often become discussions of how to cook the showcased dish (plus I really dislike the name of the community).
I don't think I've come across that before, but I'd say it depends on what is meant:
There may well be some other ones, but I don't know what they might be.
I use emacs's org-mode for most recipes and notes, some written out, some links to web pages.
As well as that, I have a piece of paper stuck inside a cupboard door with ingredient ratios for things such as pastry, béchamel, vinaigrette, etc.
I very much enjoy the extraordinary nexus of art, science, technology, and technique afforded by cooking. And how this all occasionally comes together into something delicious and beautiful.
But what I really enjoy most of all is feeding my family and friends, and seeing the happiness it brings, if that doesn't seem too twee.
I also can not abide washing up, so I enjoy the division of labour where I cook and someone else does the dishes.
Yes, it is a famously polarizing taste, but a small amount in something hefty like a ragout adds umami without adding too much of the marmite flavour. I'm vegetarian, and find it's really handy for adding meatiness to such things.
If you try it and like it, do try marmite spaghetti.
Miso, Marmite, MSG, and Maggi are all good.
Not all at once, though.
I have a Xerox colour laser printer that I'm very happy with: accepts off-brand toner, speaks postscript, good quality printing, no problems at all. I've also been very happy with Brother laser printers in the past.
Oddities and Curiosities of Words and Literature by C C Bombaugh, one of my favourite reads, feels like it might be an obscure book.
Spinney is a nice word for a smallish gathering of trees, alongside copse, coppice, etc. I'm not aware of a term for one specifically in an open field, though.