make your own bread without a bread maker

We did actually have a bread maker but I didn’t like any of the bread we made in it so we gave it away. The bread we do without a bread maker on the other hand is delicious!

The hot bread out of the oven is absolutely amazing… butter and jam will make it even better!

Be careful and don’t eat the whole thing before you get a chance to share it!

Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp (sea) salt, crushed or ground
1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 tsp sugar
2 cups water, from the cold tap

Directions:
1. Mix the active dry yeast with the sugar in about 1/4 c water. Set aside for 15 minutes or until foamy.

2. Put about 2 cups four into a stand mixer bowl. Combine thoroughly with salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the yeast water. Add the remaining 1 3/4 c. water.

3. Set the mixer to 2 (follow the directions for your mixer) and allow to knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Add more flour if necessary. Wheat bread dough should remain somewhat sticky.

4. Place the finished dough in a large, clean and greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise at room temperature for up to 2 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.

5. Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Kneed gently just a few times, then shape into something of a rectangle that will fit inside a loaf pan. Place dough into a greased and floured regular loaf pan.

6. Cover the pan with a damp dish towel and allow to rise about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. During the last 15 minutes of rising, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

7. Uncover the loaves and sprinkle the tops lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes at 450. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.

8. Unmold the bread and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

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It was so much fun! Done with my ex boyfriend, too. Egg is always a good thing – especially the sweet ones.

All of that kneading goes to waste if you don’t take the opportunity to work through some issues. Then you get to eat bread with butter and jam as a reward.