8/16/2007

best bread recipe ever

one of the interns here at everdale has this book "the forget about meat cookbook" by karen brooks. anyway it has pretty much the best bread recipes i've ever used. here is her basic bread recipe which is so good and surprisingly fluffy for 100% whole wheat. give it a go!

3 cups warm water
3/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons yeast
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
8 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

-dissolve honey and molasses in warm water
-add yeast and let sit for a few minutes until yeast begins to bubble and look spongy
-if yeast does not activate do not continue! either your yeast is dead or your water was too hot or cold.
-if yeast is fine add in oil, salt and flour
-mix with hands until flour is well incorporated
-dump dough out onto a clean, floured breadboard or counter
-knead bread until it becomes soft an elastic
-put bread in a clean, oiled bowl, pour a bit of oil on top and cover with plastic wrap and a clean dry tea towel
-let bread rise until doubled in size (about 1 hour) somewhere warm and away from drafts (a good spot is in a cold oven with the oven light turned on to create a small amount of warmth)
-once bread had risen, punch dough down and let rise again
-shape dough into loaves and place in greased bread pans, cover with plastic wrap and tea towels and let double in size
-bake bread in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes
-take loves out of oven and place on cooling racks for 5 minutes
-remove bread from tins and let cool completely on cooling racks, covered in a clean tea towel

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