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Thursday, March 20, 2008

bread baking day...


Today is bread day. I made a loaf and a dozen rolls. I love the process of making bread-the patience it takes, the feel (and taste) of the dough, and of course, the smell as it rises and bakes. The kids usually help me, but they were busy designing easter eggs, so it was just me in a quiet kitchen. The recipe I use is a simple one passed on to me by a friend:

6 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tablespoons instant yeast

1/3 cup vital wheat gluten (you can get at most grocery stores on the baking aisle)

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup raw honey

2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

2 1/2 cups warm water


Mix water, yeast and 2 cups flour. Let sit (proof) for 15 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients. Knead for 10 minutes.

Oil 2 bread pans. Turn dough over in the pans to oil the top (won't harden in the warming process).

Let rise in warm oven for 30-45 minutes.

Bake on 350 for 25-30 minutes. Makes 2 loaves of bread.


To make clover rolls:

Half the dough. Place half in a bread pan. With the other half roll the dough into small balls. Drop 3 balls into each space of a greased muffin tin. They will rise and form beautiful, cafeteria lady worthy clover rolls!


This bread is so delicious! I actually replace 2 cups of the whole wheat flour with ground up oats. That's my secret recipe. We have to make 2 loaves at a time because we practically eat one entire loaf as it comes out of the oven! I hope you enjoy this bread as much as we do- we make it (and eat it!) every week. Knowing how to make bread should be a skill we are all required to have. What a freedom it is to know exactly what goes into the food you eat and to know that you don't have to depend on a grocery store to be nourished. (We buy all of our grain from a family farm in Colorado.) I am being beckoned by my little one to rub her back. Happy baking!

3 comments:

Mandy said...

I agree - we should all know how to bake bread. Baking bread is a great way to show our kids that there is a process behind where our food comes from in the stores. It makes the ingredient list on store bought food more meaningful to them.

Great job on the bread - those rolls look really good!

Tammie said...

that bread does look good,and i have been wanting a good loaf recipe. but...where will i find vital wheat gluten. love yall, tammie

Coby said...

p.s. as of today, tammie has made three loaves of bread...we use it for sandwiches these days...yum