CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Tuesday is National Sourdough Bread Day, which celebrates one of the world's oldest leavened breads. Hooters restaurant chain files for bankruptcy protection A leavened bread rises due to the action of an ingredient, like yeast or baking powder, which creates c arbon dioxide bubbles that make the dough light and airy. Sourdough is produced through long fermentation of the dough, which uses lactobacilli and yeasts, according to the National Day Calendar. Using naturally occurring yeasts and friendly bacteria instead of cultivated yeast causes the bread to have a slightly sour taste that most find pleasant.  It is believed sourdough originated in Ancient Egyptian times around 1500 BC. During the European Middle Ages, it was also the usual form of leavening. Sourdough bread can make a great side to your soup, stew, or toasted with your morning cereal. San Francisco sourdough is the most famous sourdough bread made in the United States currently. The San Francisco variety has remained in production since 1849, with some bakeries able to trace their starters back to California’s Gold Rush period. One way to celebrate this bread holiday is by getting a fresh loaf from a local bakery. Yelp has created a list of the top bakeries to get sourdough in western Massachusetts: Hungry Ghost Bread - 62 State St, Northampton Chmura's Bakery - 14 Pulaski St, Springfield Woodstar Cafe - 60 Masonic St, Northampton Berkshire Mountain Bakery - 180 Elm St, Pittsfield Rise Above Bakery - 282 Main St, Greenfield Small Oven - 36 Union St, Easthampton Bread Euphoria - 206 Main St, Haydenville Auntie Cathie's Kitchen - 159 Main St, Agawam Tart Baking Co - 192 Main Street, Northampton Atkins Farms - 1150 West St, Amherst Local News Headlines Dressing sold at Trader Joe’s in 17 states recalled over undeclared allergens State using interest income to pay down $105 million in debt Fuel rates, mandates, tariffs add punch to energy price stew Springfield custodian says $1 million lottery ticket changed his life WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less