Rising Again

Cool weather always makes me want to bake!! The feeling struck me today and i started pulling out ingredients to make bread. I was going to go with my regular honey whole wheat recipe but then i thought i should branch out, do something different....be wild...if that can even be said about bread making.

I went hunting and found a recipe in my army wife cookbook....which i never use, by the way. But, it looked good and i thought i would just go for it. I always seem to forget before i start that homemade bread making is not a short process. Always well worth it in the end but there is the hours of rising...again and again to wait for.

When isn't Nutella a perfect accompaniment for warm bread right from the oven?!?! I will make this recipe again and again. It was so much softer and lighter than my usual recipe and so so yummy! The kids loved it and had no idea that it was good for them.

Honey Oatmeal Bread

2 c. Boiling Water
1/2 c. Honey
2 T. Butter
2 t. Salt
1 c. Rolled Oats
1 pkg. dry Yeast
1/4 c. lukewarm Water
4 1/2-5 c. Wheat or White Flour( I did half and half)

In a large bowl, stir together the boiling water, honey, butter, salt and oats. Let mixture stand for 1 hour. In a small bowl dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. Add the yeast to the oat mixture after one hour passes. Begin stirring the flour in one cup at a time. Mix well. i started with 4 cups and added the last half in while i was kneading. Knead on a floured surface for about 5-10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Add the flour as you work to keep it from being too sticky...up to 5 cups total. Place in a greased bowl, turn to coat the dough and cover bowl with towel. Place in warm spot until doubled(about 1 1/2 hours). Split into to balls of dough, knead again for a minute, then place in well greased loaf pans. Allow to stand until doubled(45 minutes). Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes. For a tasty glaze, brush top with honey and sprinkle with oats.