Incredibly Easy Homemade Bread

So this is, of course, made with my fresh ground grains and it is truly wonderful.

I got the recipe from our friend Lisa, who is an amazing baker and is chock full of scrumptious recipes. She has been grinding grains for a lot longer than I have so I knew I had to ask for some recipes and this is the one she said to start with.

It is unbelievably easy.

I can go from grinding the grains to having the dough rising in the pan in less than 15 minutes (especially now that I have the recipe memorized).

(makes 1 loaf)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon yeast

2 3/4 cups fresh ground whole winter wheat flour

1/2 cup fresh ground barley flour

1/4 cup gluten flour

1/4 cup oats

1 teaspoon salt

1 rounded tablespoon honey or maple syrup

2 tablespoons apple sauce

1 1/2 cups warm water

soft butter for brushing the pan

Preparation Instructions

In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook (of course you CAN do this by hand but the mixer has been working great for me lately :), put all the ingredients in, in order. Turn on to medium and allow the mixer to knead the dough for you for about 3 minutes.

While the machine is kneading, brush soft butter into your bread pan with a pastry brush and set aside.

When the bread has been kneaded, grab the whole thing of dough and shape it, I usually just kind of pull it gently into the shape of the pan and then plop it in the pan and gently pull it the rest of the way to ‘fill’ the pan. Set in a warm spot, covered with a clean tea towel for about 20-30 minutes, don’t let it rise more than about 1/2” above the top of the pan. While it is rising preheat your oven to 330º.

Once the dough has risen remove the tea towel and place the bread in the oven. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when you tap on the top.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes.

Remove the bread from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely, while it is still warm brush a little more soft butter all over the top.

Once cooled completely, it is ready to eat or you can store it in a plastic bag.