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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A Favorite Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Recipe!

Homemade whole wheat bread is very delicious, affordable, fun to make, and fun to eat! My husband purchased a Bosch Kitchen System for me about fifteen years ago, and we've been experimenting ever since. There's always a new recipe to try, a new technique to master (not that I've mastered one yet...I'm a slow learner), and creative new ways of making beautiful breads and pastries. Even the children love making bread. In fact, the little ones think it's a lot like playing with play dough:) They always ask for a bit of dough to work with and often come up with the best *recipes*!
Not to worry if you do not own a Bosch Kitchen System. You will save a lot of energy by letting it do the work of kneading for you, but it isn't essential to have. I dreamed of having one long before I actually received it:)
We have an electric grinder and a non-electric one for grinding our grain. The electric one we've had for many many years and we have been very pleased with it's service. The non-electric one we purchased last year. It actually grinds a finer flour than the electric one, and I wouldn't have believed that to be possible. We also have had a very inexpensive non-electric one that we mostly used for grinding dried beans. It works fine but probably wouldn't hold up as well with constant use. It also required running the grain through twice in order to get it fine enough.
Our wheat berries are purchased in bulk from Wheat Montana. They will deliver to you if you order a minimum of 5000 pounds. It really isn't that difficult to put together a group order and meet the minimum, and the price is well worth the trouble. They sell in 25# bags, 50# bags, and 45# buckets. I prefer using Prairie Gold, but I've also enjoyed Red Wheat, Spelt, Rye, and White Pastry Wheat. They also offer more than just wheat.
We also purchase some items from a food cooperative on a monthly basis, but their price on wheat is much higher than that of Wheat Montana.
I really love using rapid-rise or quick-rise yeast rather than the small packets in the grocery store. It will typically rise your dough in half the amount of time and it is SO much cheaper. Instant yeast such as the popular SAF brand is a professional baker's yeast and is available to anyone. You can also purchase instant yeast at Sam's for a great price.

Now for the recipe:

Mill 12-13 cups wheat, set aside (18-20 cups flour and it= approx. 5 pounds)

In heavy duty mixer bowl with dough hook attachment (if using Bosch)or(large bowl if kneading by hand)
6 cups warm water (120 - 130 degrees)
2/3 cup honey
2/3 cup oil (or1/3)
5 cups of flour
4 tbsp. instant yeast

Cover and let sponge for at least 30 minutes. This is optional but develops better flavor.

Add 2 tbsp. salt and enough of the flour that remains (very quickly) until the dough cleans the sides of your Bosch bowl. If the dough is very wet, add more flour. Start the kneading process for 8 minutes. Shape into five greased 8"x4" pans. Cover with towel and rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool on rack. Brush with butter, optional. This recipe is a combination of the recipe I've used for many years and a recipe by Denise Fidler at The Country Baker. She has a WONDERFUL cookbook ~ Wildflour.

We make 3 or 4 batches of this dough a week for our family of 15, and it can be used for making all sorts of things. We make some of the dough into loaves, 5 pizza crusts out of the dough for Friday night pizza, cinnamon rolls, monkey bread, braided bread stuffed with meats,* fried* pies. It really is an *all-purpose* kind of recipe! One of our favorite things to make with the dough is something we call Bloomin' Parmasan Bread, and I hope to share pictures and the rest of the recipe tomorrow. I think I'll always be on the look out for new bread recipes and ways to improve. I have much to learn and would love to hear any ideas or recipes you may have! Happy baking:)

Blessings,

Sherry

Raising Homemakers

11 comments:

  1. Hi.. I have just come across your blog and am amazed at what you accomplish... My....
    Your bread looks so delicious.. I really want to start grinding my own flour and find this posting so inspiring..
    Thank you...

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  2. Just the two of us at home, so I usually only make a couple of loaves at a time. I use my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook.

    Your recipe sounds great. Who doesn't love homemade bread? :)

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  3. Oh Sherry, I just want to come and live with you dear!!! I love your blog, your farm (the work horses) your farm house and all that you do there except probably the laundry. I struggle with keeping up on the laundry for 5 of us I can't imagine doing laundry for 15. I'm sure everyone does their share of the work around there, they would have to unless you are Wonder Woman. LOL

    Your bread looks beautiful! I just burned up my k-tec wheat grinder this week and my Kitchen Aid stand mixer two day later. It was brand new! Im going to have to look into heavier duty ones this time.

    I had to laugh, I always have little hands in everything I do too. Gotta love it!....They will only be little a little while right?!

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  4. Susan,

    Thank you so much for leaving such a sweet comment...you brightened my day:) And yes, you are so right about the laundry and there being lots of it:) I'm thankful to have so many good helpers 'cause Wonder Woman I'm NOT!! Without them we'd all be buried under the dirty laundry:)

    You mentioned in your comment that your K-tec grinder and Kitchen Aid standing mixer burned up recently. I wanted to mention to you the possibility of them being under warranty. We sell a different kind of grinder and mixer, and both have very good warranties. I think the K-tec might have a six year warranty or better?? Didn't know if you were aware of that. Hope that helps and that you might be able to send it/them back for a replacement.

    Yes! Little hands are in everything:) I love it too:) Blessings on you and your family as you continue to be a blessing to your little grandchildren and to one another. By the way, I love *Grammy*. Not sure what I'll be called when I have grandchildren, but *Grammy* has a nice ring to it!

    Blessings,

    Sherry

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  5. Oh what a joy. We had the pleasure of meeting you and your glorious family in the fall of 09. We stayed in the "office" next to your house and met you briefly at Kelly's. I am sure you probably don't remember us but you certainly made an impact on us. Kelly shared some of your frugal ways with us and we have enjoyed implementing them in our daily life. I can't wait to read more about you.

    Blessings,
    Emily

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  6. Sherry,
    This is just fantastic... you are an inspiration! No worries about not having my button here... just include the link for future posts if you like... one or the other is just fine! I want to take a vacation at your house... I can smell the bread from here!
    Deb

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  7. Hi again Sherry. I am pleased that the scripture verse is being displayed. That makes me smile. : ) I emailed my mom the link to your blog last night. I half expected to hear her squeal with delight from across town when she saw that you were blogging. She waited until morning to share her delight. She said she thought about calling me in the middle of the night when she was reading it (she was up due to really bad allergies, poor dear).

    I wondered if you would mind if I did a blog post about your blog? I have several friends and followers who are like minded in the areas of large families and homesteading.

    Blessings,
    Emily

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  8. Emily,

    So sorry to hear that your mom is having trouble with allergies. Please tell her I said *hello*!!

    I wouldn't mind at all if you did a post. How very kind of you to ask:)

    Hope you have a blessed Easter weekend. I find myself humming the words to a familiar song, "Up from the grave He arose; with a mighty triumph o're His foes;...."!

    Blessings,

    Sherry

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  9. I LOVE your blog,I clicked the FOLLOW button today!!!!!!!!!!What your family does together is just beautiful!!!!
    Please come on over and follow our family blog as we journey through Homeschooling and Homesteading

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  10. I really want to learn more about grinding my own flour and think a hand grinder would be for me. The thought of buying so much at a time is daunting, i guess i need to find someone else who shares my interest as you suggested. your bread looks yummy and one i will try! have you ever used a starter rather than yeast? i have been reading about commercial yeast lately and decided to try a sour dough starter instead. you can make whole wheat with that as well. thanks for sharing your recipe, i love your home:)

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  11. Hello, just found your blog through the Farmgirl Friday hop. It sure won't be my last time to visit:) Love the homey, welcoming feeling of your blog. Look forward to reading more of your blog posts. God Bless!

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