Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Whole Wheat Bread

I have been engaged in a rather distasteful task the last two days. It has kept me so busy that I am nigh onto exhaustion. The task? Cleaning out cupboards, drawers, closets, and the thing I am going to do tomorrow, re-arrange the linen closet. I don't know where all the throw blankets came from. I am sure that all of you have had to do these things at one time or another. I still haven't figured out where all the stuff comes from that keeps getting put into places that are already too full to hold it. I am trying desperataely to weed out the stuff that I don't really need to keep. What to do with it? It's either too good to throw away, or I hate to donate it because it has been in my family for years. There are just too many reasons why I hate to get rid things. Oh well, I will at least try to make a dent in it.

Trying to figure out which bread recipe to do this time (I still have the white bread to do) has kept my mind occupied as I was sitting in my chair relaxing and promising myself that I would do this post in the morning. But, I do my best physical work in the morning so I decided to do it tonight so that I can get an early start tomorrow. Here goes:

100% Whole Wheat Bread: This recipe makes four loaves, you may want to cut it in half

14 cups whole wheat flour
6 1/2 cups luke warm water
1 Tablespoon salt
3/4 cups honey (If it is solid, it will need to be melted.)
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 packages yeast and one teaspoon sugar dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water

1. Get out all the ingredients to be sure nothing is left out.
2. Prepare a warm place for the dough during resting and raising periods.
3. Put the 6 1/2 cups of luke warm water in large mixing bowl. Add salt, honey, eggs, oil
and yeast solution, then stir well.
4. Add 6 cups whole wheat flour, stir and let rest 10 minutes in a warm place.
5. Stir well again. Use big spoon or one blade on mix master. Let rest in warm place until
many bubbles appear. 30 to 45 min.
6. Stir in 8 more cups of whole wheat flour, one at a time.
7. Grease top of dough and sides of mixing bowl and let raise double in warm place. 45 to 60
min.
8. Stir down and let raise double again. 30 to 40 min.
9. Stir down and put on floured board. Knead very slightly with hands greased with peanut or
mazola oil.
10.Cut and mold into 4 loaves and place in greased pans. Rub oil on top of loaf*
11.Set oven to 400 degrees while bread raises 10 min by the clock.
12.Put bread in oven. Bake 15 min at 400 degrees, then turn oven down to 350 degrees and
continue baking for 45 more minutes. (Total baking time one hour)
13 Take bread out of oven and remove from pans to cool on racks.


* Note: I always prepare pans by first greasing with crisco and then coating well on all sides
with oil, then when I put loaves into pans, I put them in upside down then turn right side
up which coats the tops with oil.

If you are using a bread maker like a Kitchen Aid, after the liquids are in the bowl, you don't need to hand stir it, just put the dough hook on first setting until mixed well, then turn to the knead setting, which is the second setting on my mixer and then just follow instructions as they come.

I hope that at least one of you tries this as it is delicious and really healthy. Be sure to let me know how it turns out, okay?

8 comments:

  1. I never thought of putting the bread in the pans and then taking them out and turning them so they will be oiled on top. Great idea!

    Someday I will get to this good looking recipe. But I just came home from the store with the ingredients for the caramel corn. Can''t wait to try it tomorrow!

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  2. Homemade bread was always a treat growing up. I don't think I ever ate a piece that was cold, we ate it that fast! Thanks for the recipe and now I must go take a nap because just reading about all that cleaning has made me tired!

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  3. I'm so glad Jill is making your carmel corn, because I know she will love it!

    =)

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  4. I can't take so much goodness! There's nothing quite like the aroma and taste of homemade bread! I'm so excited to have your good recipes!

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  5. Gosh have I missed visiting with you Been wanting to come by here all week and just now making it and here it is already Friday.
    Darlene I can't believe this post....because you are doing exactly what I have been doing for over a week now and it has gotten me depressed. Your so right what you said about too good to throw away and then some of it has been in the family. Anyway it was strange that I have been thinking of you all week and then find out your doing the same thing. lol
    Love the homemade bread receipe and I see I missed the carmel corn. I have to catch up with you.
    Take care and enjoy your weekend. I have to babysit my daughters dog and not looking forward to that since Tinkerbell and him do not get a long. lol
    Love
    Maggie

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  6. I was waiting for this recipe! We only eat whole wheat, sometimes oatmeal, but since we don't buy white flour, I have been anxiously awaiting this recipe! I am so excited to try it out. Thank you thank you thank you for posting it!

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  7. I too, am trying to clean house. I think you are making more progress than me, Darlene. everytime I start, there are a trillion interruptions!
    The bread looks yum!! I used to have a bread baker and made it for the kids all the time. Then they left home and each time I made it, ate it mostly alone...had to give the baker to one of my children...ha! I'll have to try this recipe though.
    Good luck with your cleaning and hope mine re-starts!!

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  8. Found you this afternoon from grandmayellow hairs site. I love reading Maggies site and so thought if you were a friend of hers I would enjoy reading your also.
    Your wheat bread sound really good. I may have to try this.
    I am now following you
    Tam

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