This has got to be the all-time BEST and CHEAPEST whole wheat bread – EVER.
I got this
recipe from my dear friend Bonnie. She
swears it is a recipe EVERY body should have because the 5 ingredients are staples
in your Food Storage that have long shelf lives.
Ingredients:
3 ¼ cups very warm water
2/3 c firmly packed brown sugar
4 tsp salt
8-10
c flour
2
large Tablespoons Yeast
The 1st thing I do to make this bread even better is to grind my wheat. Now I'm starting with FRESHLY GROUND WHOLE WHEAT THAT IS HOT AND SMELLS SOOOO GOOD.
Directions:
· In 4 cup
measuring cup fill with very warm water.
Sprinkle in yeast.
(I give my yeast a quick ½ stir, then
sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar over the top)
· While you are
waiting for the yeast to activate in the water, sift together 4 cups of flour
and the salt. Add the brown sugar and
stir til the sugar & flour are combined.
· If you are
using a Kitchen-Aid Mixer, put the dry ingredients into the bowl and turn on
lowest setting for 30 seconds. Turn the
mixer to the next level (#2) & slowly and gradually add your yeast
water.
· Add the next 3
cups of flour very slowly or it will fly out of the bowl.
· Add the next 2
cups by eyeballing the dough. If it looks too wet, add 1 cups at a
time. If it looks too dry don’t add both
cups.
· After about 10
minutes the dough should be smooth & elastic.
If you are
kneading by hand, add all the ingredients together & knead for about 10
minutes.
· Turn it out
into a greased bowl. Give it a quarter
of a turn, then turn it upside down.
· Put a sheet of
waxed paper over the top & then lay a dishtowel on top of the waxed paper.
When the dough is double in size, give
it a good punch in the center.
· Take it out of
the bowl & divide it in half.
Flatten out each half with your palms until you’ve got all the air
bubbles out.
· Shape each
half into a greased bread pan.
· Using a pastry
brush, paint it with melted butter.
When it has risen to above the top,
put it in the oven & bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. My oven runs hot, so you’ll have to go by how
it smells & looks. If you are in the
other room & you suddenly can smell your bread & it is golden brown on
the top, it is most likely done.
Super yummy with a slab of butter
& a dollop of honey. Mmmm.
