I used to make homemade bread pretty often. We all love it and would be happy to have it as our "daily bread". It's not hard to make but it is a little time consuming, especially since you have to be around for each step. Still, it's so much healthier that I'm going to try to get back into the habit of making it regularly.
I was asked to bake a loaf for our church. Tomorrow is World Communion Sunday and we have a tradition of serving several different types of bread for this special communion service. The woman who called to ask if I could bake a loaf is the one who has for many, many years baked the bread for communion which we celebrate the first Sunday of every month, plus additional special/Holy days. She happens to be a busy nurse anesthetist, too. There's no way I would have told her no.
So, this afternoon I baked five loaves of bread, took one to the church and have four delicious loaves left. Well, about 3 1/2 since we had some for dinner. ;) Here is the recipe I use and some photos of the process.
First up, how about a picture of my baking center before I start making a mess:
And the ingredients I'll be using:
I keep the recipe taped to the inside of a cabinet in my baking center:
Bucket of wheat:
Grinding the wheat:
And here's the recipe:
Homemade Bread for the Bosch
Mix the following ingredients in your Bosch at speed 1 or 2.
- 6 c. warm water
- 1/2 c. powdered milk
- 1 T. liquid lecithin
- 3/4 c. canola or olive oil
- 2/3 c. brown sugar or honey (I've used both with equally good results.)
- 5 c. whole wheat flour
- 5 T. yeast
- 3 T. sea salt
- 1/4 c. powdered whey
- 1/2 c. vital wheat gluten
Allow to sit for 10 minutes to "proof" This step enhances flavor and tests the activity of your yeast. At the end of 10 minutes the mixture will look bubbly and/or foamy.
Add:
10 - 13 c. of whole wheat flour (I grind 8 cups of wheat which is my grinder's capacity. That gives me perhaps 12 cups of flour. I make up the difference with organic all-purpose flour.)
(Just enough for dough to form a ball that pulls cleanly away from the
sides of the bowl.)
Knead on speed 2 for 10 minutes. Turn the dough into a greased bowl, cover and let rise until double in size. (approximately 30 min.)
Shape into 4 large or 6 regular loaves (I make 5 loaves) and let rise in pans until doubled. (approximately 30 min.)
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
After kneading in the Bosch:
Thirty minutes later:
Yeah, it rose pretty well today:
Ready for the oven:
Right out of the oven:
Cooling:
I had one slice with my dinner but I do believe I'll go get another to go with my evening cup of tea. There's nothing quite like homemade bread with a little homemade blackberry jam on it. Delicious!
