Bread

Having recently freed my family from our dependence on store-bought hamburger buns, I feel our ultimate goal (nothing but homemade bread) is well within reach. These are two of my favorite bread recipes. I make them both in my 6-quart Kitchenaid and I have to cut the wheat bread recipe in half.

Perfect Whole Wheat Bread

10-12 cups of whole wheat flour
2 tbls dry yeast
1/2 cup wheat gluten
4 cups warm water (120-130 degrees)
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey (do the oil first and the honey just slides out!)
1 tbls salt

Place 6 cups flour into mixer bowl with kneading arm. Add dry yeast and gluten; mix well. Add water and mix one minute. Cover and let sit 10 minutes. (This makes the bread lighter). Add oil, honey, and salt. Turn on mixer and add remaining flour one cup at a time until dough forms a ball and cleans the sides of the bowl. The dough should be soft to the touch not to stiff. Knead 7-10 minutes or by hand 12 to 15. Dough should be smooth and elastic. Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Divide dough into equal parts. Shape each part into a loaf. Place in greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch baking pans. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. (If you use glass baking pans, reduce oven temperature to 325). Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Honey Oatmeal Bread

1 1/2 c. water

1/2 c. honey

1/3 c. butter

5 1/2 to 6 1/2 c. flour

1 c. quick oats

2 tsp. salt

2 pkgs. active dry yeast

2 eggs

1 egg white

1 tbsp. water

oatmeal (I use regular rolled oats here. They're much prettier).

Place water, honey, and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until mixture is very warm (120-130 degrees Fahrenheit).

Place 5 cups flour, oats, salt and yeast in mixer bowl. Mix with dough hook on speed 2 about 15 seconds. Continue mixing, gradually adding warm water mixture and mix for 1 minute. Add eggs and mix 1 minute longer. Still on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix about 2 minutes, or until dough clings to hook and cleans side of bowl. Knead on speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf. Place in greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch baking pans. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Beat egg white and water together with a fork. Brush top of loaves with mixture. Sprinkle with oatmeal. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. (If you use glass baking pans, reduce temperature to 350). Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.