Real Home Cookin’

Basic Whole Wheat Bread (yields 3 loaves) - page 1 of 3

Ingredients:

• 4 cups lukewarm water
• 2/3 cup powdered milk
• 3 heaping tablespoons shortening (melted or 1/3 cup oil)
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dough enhancer (optional)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons gluten (if you are using old wheat)
• 11 cups whole wheat flour

Step # 1: Mix all ingredients except salt and flour. Stir until dissolved. Let the yeast mixture grow for about 10 minutes. Add the salt and half the flour and mix it up until it looks like batter. Let that stand for 10 minutes. Add most of the remaining flour slowly until you have a ball of dough that cleans the bowl and bounces back when you touch it. Knead the bread dough until it turns smooth (approximately 10 minutes). The bread dough should be kneaded on a floured surface such as a counter top or plastic cutting board. (cont. on page 2)

Basic Whole Wheat Bread - page 2 of 3

Step # 1 continued: Rub a little flour on your hands. The least amount of flour you can use and still form a ball of dough is the best. Add more flour if it becomes sticky. Form the dough into a round ball. Fold it towards you using the heals of your hands. Push the dough away with a rolling motion. Turn dough a half turn and repeat until the dough is smooth and elastic (about ten minutes). If the dough becomes sticky, sprinkle with a small amount of flour and keep kneading it. Place the dough in an oiled bowl so the dough doesn't stick.

Step # 2: Put a clean towel over the bowl and let the dough rise until doubled.

Step # 3: Punch it down and remove all the air bubbles.

Step # 4: Shape it into three regular sized loaves or 6 small loaves and place them in greased bread pans.

Step # 5: Let the dough rise again until it reaches about one inch above the pan. The dough will rise faster if placed in a warm oven preheated to 150°.

(cont. on page 3)

Basic Whole Wheat Bread - page 3 of 3

Step # 6: Turn the oven up and bake at 350° until the loaves are nicely browned and the bread sounds hollow when you tap it. Baking time is approximately 30 to 35 minutes for small loaves and 40 to 60 minutes for regular size loaves. When it is done, remove the bread from the pans and let them cool. Brush the tops of the loaves with melted butter while the bread is still warm. This recipe for bread can also be used for dinner rolls, bread sticks, cinnamon rolls, scones and many other variations.

Note* A bread mixer can be used to knead the bread. This will save time in the bread making process. The instructions above are for making bread the old fashioned way, The way my grandmother use to make it, which is by hand.