The story of starter dough I guess Saimi Moilanen could have gone herself, but she was otherwise occupied. So, her ten-year-old son, Jussi, was sent to buy starter dough from the lady next door, who always sold her baked goods at the market square. In the 1950s, Finland did not have too much bread, literally, so the Moilas family thought they could bake bread themselves and generate some income for the family as well. “What are you going to do?” asked the old lady when Jussi arrived and wanted to buy starter dough to bake Finnish fish pasties and other baked goods. Jussi replied enthusiastically: “We are also going to start selling goods at the market square.” It did not occur to Jussi that the lady might not want competition. However, the lady only smiled, wrapped the starter dough carefully in butter paper, gave it to Jussi and lay her hands on top of Jussi’s head and said: “Godspeed.” “Well?”, asked Mother Saimi at home. “Did she sell it to you?” “No,” answered Jussi, still a bit shocked. “She gave it to me.” So, Saimi decided to put the starter dough in good use, conjure up new treats in the home oven and pay it forward.
