Bread Recipes

[pluckyduck]

I promised Melanie a bread recipe. All of the ones I've acquired and tested are for 1 1/2 to 2lb machines. Really impressive people who don't use a machine at all will have to add their own instructions after the ingredient list. Also, this is a 2 pound recipe, so if you've got a smaller machine, you need to adjust down.

Recipe from Recipezaar
Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 3 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

1. Place ingredients in manufacturer's suggested order.
2. Select basic bread cycle.
3. Ta da!

My adjustments - I make this with 2C of King Arthur white whole wheat flour and 1 1/2C of white bread flour. I usually add some KA whole wheat loaf improver, too.

Can't rave about this recipe enough. It never fails. And the oats be healthy.

(pictures somewhere. I'll post them if I find them. )

edit - also, it bakes beautifully in the machine, but I do bake out of the machine now most of the time. I can't lay my hands right on my baking out of the machine instructions, though. I'll add them later. (If you bake out of the machine, you already know what to do. You don't really need me! )

[emeleel]

Whole wheat loaf improver?

[Magick1]

That sounds like an awesome recipe!

[pluckyduck]

emeleel said

Whole wheat loaf improver?

It's all about the gluten. Or something.


Are your whole-grain loaves short and dense?

I

Whole Grain Bread Improver, 12 oz Solve the problem with King Arthur’s Whole-Grain Bread Improver. Add a tablespoon of this all-natural improver to a typical 3-cup-flour yeast bread recipe. Loaves will rise higher, and have better texture. Perfect for all whole-grain (or partially whole-grain) loaves. In 12-ounce container.

I don't think the fancier "loaf improver" is necessary. The key is the vital wheat gluten. I've used Bob's Red Mill Gluten, too, and I can't really tell a difference.

From Bob's site:

Gluten, Vital Wheat is the natural protein found in wheat. It contains 75% protein. A small amount added to yeast bread recipes improves the texture and elasticity of the dough. This is often used by commercial bakeries to produce light textured breads, and can easily put the home bread baker on a par with the professionals. Vital Wheat Gluten can also be used to make a meat substitute known as seitan

The big thing for me was baking whole grain bread the family would actually eat. Lighter went over better.