Meal Mondays #4!

For today's Meal Monday, I wanted to share with you one of my very favorite recipes! The following recipe is for whole wheat bread. It's very healthy for you, and is truly the best tasting whole wheat bread I've ever had! This bread will quickly become your favorite addition to any meal! You can use it as toast, sandwhich bread, or as a side for your favorite dinner, but however you eat it, one thing is guaranteed: you'll love it!

Whole Wheat Bread

1 1/2 cups hot water

1/3 cup oil(we use extra virgin olive oil-it's healthier!)

1/3 cup honey

2 tsp salt

1 egg

2 TBSP lecithin

1 tsp gluten

about 4 3/4 cups whole wheat flour(enough so that the dough is not sticky)

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1 TBSP yeast

Here are the step-by-step instructions along with photos for some help if you need it.

Combine oil, honey, salt, egg, lecithin, gluten, ground flax seeds, and hot water in a mixing bowl(you can use the dough hook attachment of your mixer, but we usually don't). Mix well.

Add the yeast and allow it to proof a couple of minutes(don't dump the yeast in all at once in one clump, but rather spread it out as this picture shows).
Add one cup of flour and mix well. Then add a second cup and mix it thoroughly as well.
With the third and fourth cups of flour, mix by hand(with a spoon) or use the dough hook attachment-it gets way too thick for a regular mixer attachment. After you've mixed in the 4th cup of flour, cover your cabinet with some flour, take the dough out from the bowl, and place on cabinet. Work the dough and add more flour as needed. Knead the dough for approximately 10 minutes. Use enough flour and knead enough to where it isn't too sticky.
After kneading the dough, place it back in the bowl and cover it with a towel. Let it rise until it's about double its original size. After it's risen, punch it down. Then knead again for about 3 minutes.

Divide dough into 2 equal segments and place in bread tins(they measure approximately 3 1/2" X 8").
Let it rise until just over double.
Place in preheated oven at 325 degrees F(adjust to your oven's temp if needed) for about 25 minutes. Then take them out of the oven, butter the top of the loaves, and allow them to cool.
Afterwards, we use this really handy bread-cutting machine.



ENJOY!!!

Making bread makes you feel so domestic and old fashioned-it's so much fun! :)

Let me know how you like the bread! It's sure to become a family favorite.

If you're reading this and you're an unmarried young lady, I highly encourage you to begin making this now-don't just give this recipe to your mom and let her make it for the family. If you begin making this bread now, once you're married you'll be so glad that you took the time to learn how to make it. Preparing for your life as a wife, mother and homemaker is so important, and making fresh, homemade, healthy and nutritious bread is a great way to serve your family!

*a big thank-you to the Hugheys at church for this great recipe!