Whole Wheat Bread

Making Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

 It was a cool, rainy day and that is always a good day to make bread and soup. There is always a supply of whole wheat bread in the freezer. I replenished the supply of bread, and warmed up the ham and bean soup left over from earlier this weekend. I decided to try my hand at making pretzels and happy to say they turned out great. I used the recipe attached to this note.

HONEY WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

2 c. All purpose-flour

1 pkg active dry yeast or 2-1/4 tsp dry yeast

1-1/2 c water

1/3 c. honey or molasses (1/3 c. brown sugar and 1-3/4 c. water)

3 Tbsp butter

2-1/2 c. whole wheat flour

¼ c. gluten four ( optional) It helps the whole wheat to rise

1 tsp.. salt

Combine 2 c. all-purpose flour, gluten and yeast in mixer bowl. Heat and stir honey, butter, water, and salt. Warm to 120-130 degrees or until butter melts. (If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast action.) Pour into mixer, slowly. Beat at low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Change to a dough hook. Using a spoon stir in whole wheat flour. ( I add enough flour to make the dough come away from the side of the bowl and gather around the dough hook but yet be sticky. If too much flour is added it the bread will not rise as well and will be dry. It has to be a little sticky. I use the dough hook and do not knead outside the bowl. That's your choice.)( It seems to me that the dough changes consistency when it has risen.)

Knead for 6-8 minutes. Put out on a board or counter just dusted with flour. Shape into a ball and place in a greased bowl Turn over in bowl so greased side is at the top. Cover and let rise in a warm pace until double. Recipe says 1-1-1/2 hours. I didn't think it took that long.

Punch down and cover and let set for 10 minutes. Turn out on a lightly floured board or counter and add flour as needed. One recipe makes 4 mini loaves or 2 larger loaves. Not sure how many pretzels.

Put in greased loaf pans, cover, and set aside in a warm place to raise until doubled.(45-60 minutes)

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 -20 minutes or until golden brown. Pretzels take 8-10 minutes. Let cool and turn out on rack.

Pretzels I take a dab of dough and roll into a long tootsie roll about 12” long and shape. Larger pretzels, more dough and longer roll.

Enjoy!