One Loaf Whole Wheat Bread

Prep time: 10 minutes, Mixing time: 10 minutes, Rising time: 2 stages at ½ hour each, Baking time 30 to 35 minutes. Method in oven or outside grill!!

Method:

Combine in a large bowl: 3 cups flour, sea salt, toss together. ( Leave the ½ cup flour to mix dough together if needed )

In another bowl, add dry fast rising or traditional yeast with 1¼ cups warm water and 1 tbsp honey extra if needed.

Let rise for about 5 minutes.

In another small bowl melt one tablespoons of butter or margarine.

Then in flour mixture make a hole in the middle to pour your yeast mixture and butter, mixing all ingredients together with a wooden spoon or stand up mixer with hook until it thickens, then keep adding ½ cup of flour to work dough together, plus add more warm water if needed ONLY at the mixing stage... ( If you need to add more warm water this should be done during the mixing stage.) This can be done with your hand or mixer with a hook.

Knead dough, add more flour if necessary until dough is smooth, elastic and no longer sticky and you can hear cracking of the dough when folding dough. Keep working dough into a ball.

When completed, I always mark the sign of a cross on top of the dough. Also cut the top of the dough like a cross, then cover with parchment paper and a towel. "Crossing your bread is optional, this is an old NL tradition."

Let dough rise in a warm place for half an hour then knead it down, by deflating the dough with your hand. This is done by pushing and pulling the dough until you release the air and forms into a ball again...  “ You can leave this step out if you wish” see video for more details.

Prepare your bread pan, line with a piece of parchment paper or butter the sides and bottom.

After your dough rises, fold into one piece forming it inwards into a long shape, then place in your bread pan.  Makes 1 loaf of bread. Brush with some melted butter if you like the top to brown more. Keep covered with a towel and in a warm place until bread rises half the size you started with.

Preheat oven to 350ºF Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Bonita’s Tips: Brush bread with butter then cover with a towel,to soften top of bread, serve hot or cold.

Cut in slices after it comes to room temp, then put bread in a plastic bag and freeze bread this will keep it fresh every time you take it out a slice.

Serve with butter, jam or molasses or the way you like it.