Sunday, February 7, 2010

We heart snow.

You're sick of hearing about it, I know. You're sick of shoveling it, tired of it messin' with your plans or robbing you of your heat and electricity. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. We were lucky to have all of our amenities, but not everyone on our street had that experience. There were so many acts of kindness swirling around us that it was impossible not to be warmed by it all. I love our little street so much.

Our fuel today for shoveling and playing: my new favorite go to soft and hearty bread. WHO Bread (Wheat. Honey. Oats). Oh. You're sick of hearing about bread, too?

WHO Bread
adapted from SouleMama, Amanda Soule

The original recipe on her site is for a bread machine, but she also had the "acoustic" recipe listed as well, as linked above. I found it lacked the much important kneading step though and a few other details that I knew because I've made bread before. Even though I love, love, love cinnamon, I left it out of my loaves because 1) I wanted it for sandwiches and 2) someone else in this family isn't a cinnamon freak like I am.

2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast (this is the equivalent of one packet)
1 1/4 cups warm water
2 TBSP honey
1 TBSP brown sugar
2 TBSP room temperature butter
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour (just like SouleMama, I did 2 cups white flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon (as noted, I omitted this)

In mixing bowl, add warm water, honey and sugar and stir to combine. Allow this to sit 10-15 minutes until the mixture is frothy.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, oats, salt, cinnamon (if using) and butter. Add this mixture to the yeast and mix on low speed (or by hand) until thoroughly combined. Knead dough for 6-8 minutes if you are using a stand mixer or until smooth if you are kneading this by hand. Dough will be slightly tacky, but not sticky.

Allow dough to rise until doubled in a oiled bowl (I just use the mixer bowl), covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Her recipe has you do this in the loaf pan, but I did it my way. Once risen, punch dough down and put dough in an oiled loaf pan, covered loosely with plastic wrap or damp towel, letting it rise for a second time, about 45 minutes to 1 hour (or until loaf has risen at least an inch above the lip of the loaf pan).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove plastic wrap or towel from the loaf pan and place pan in the center of your oven. Bake 25 minutes.

Remove from pan to cool.

Eat with butter and jam. Dodge snowballs thrown by impish toddler.

3 comments:

LisaBe said...

i'm sorry. the impish toddler is too adorable to appear in blogs in the state of pennsylvania. she will have to be removed or made less adorable.

Life with Pog & FLeC said...

She is a.dor.a.ble. Holy cow! She just gets cuter and cuter.

Annie and Greg said...

I am willing to bet that your WHO bread is way better than the Who that did the halftime show last night.