Friday, March 4, 2011

Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

This bread comes out just perfect - easy to slice, even in thin pieces, and holds together really well. It is so delicious!

Recipe from my dear friend, Jennie Christopherson (who has an amazing craft/food/etc. blog HERE that you should totally check out).

Ingredients:
2.5 c hot water (around 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit)
1.25 T yeast
2 t sugar
1 T salt
1/3 c extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 c sugar (or 1/3 c honey)
1.25 T bottled lemon juice
1/3 c flax seed
1/3 c gluten
5.5 - 6 c whole wheat flour

Directions:
- Mix together the yeast, water, and 2 t. sugar and let rise about 10 minutes (should puff up).
- Mix the salt, oil, sugar, and lemon juice together in a mixer with a dough hook.
- Add the yeast mixture and mix.
- Blend the flax seed in a blender or food processor until broken apart and fluffy.
- Add the flax plus enough whole wheat flour to equal 3.5 cups to the mixer.
- Add the gluten and mix.
- Continue adding an additional 2-2.5 cups of flour until the dough comes cleanly off the sides of the bowl as you knead it with the dough hook. Knead in the mixer about 10 minutes. The dough will be very soft, but will be elastic when pulled apart.
- Preheat the oven for a few minutes to lukewarm and turn off.
- Turn dough onto oiled counter top, divide, shape into loaves, and place in oiled pans.
- Let rise in warm oven 30-45 minutes until the dough fills in and reaches the top of the pans.
- Do not remove bread from oven; turn oven to 350 degrees and bake 30 minutes.
- Let cool 10 minutes in pans, then remove from pans.

Yields 2 large or 3 small loaves.