Simply Perfect Whole Wheat Bread - Best Recipe Ever!

Ever since I started my bread making journey I have been searching for that perfect bread that consistently turns out well and also can make great sandwich bread.  That is the key, sandwich bread that is not course or grainy.  But sadly much of my bread turns out grainy and although it tastes great it just cant be used for sandwiches.  I really really want to bake all our own bread.  My rolls are heavenly, my pies divine, my cookies yummy (cant take credit here I just follow the recipe)  but darn it all my bread will just not turn out for sandwiches.  I was on the point of giving up when I found a post over at one of my favorite blogs Paratus Familia.

Enola Gay is one of my mentors, she bakes all her own breads and in a wood cook stove too!  So when I read her post about a bread that turns out perfect 99% of the time and also makes great sandwich bread and also is whole wheat I knew I had to try it.

Well Enola is no liar, this bread not only was easy but it turned out perfect and sliced up beautifully for sandwiches.  It tastes divine and is whole wheat which is great because I am trying to change our family over to whole wheat breads.  I can't believe how well this turned out!

Check out her blog because it is just so fun and encouraging!

http://www.paratusfamiliablog.com/2012/05/whole-wheat-bread-that-will-have-you.html



Simply Perfect Whole Wheat Bread


In a large bowl mix:


3 C warm water (110°)
2 T dry yeast
1/3 C honey

Stir in:


5 C bread flour

Let sit for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly (sponging).


Mix in:


3 T melted butter
1/3 C honey (in addition to the honey already added)
1 T salt
2 - 4 C whole wheat flour


Knead for about 10 minutes.  The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the bowl (or counter) but still sticky to touch.


Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough.  Cover with a dishtowel.  Let rise in a warm place until double.


Punch down and divide into 3 loaves.  Place in greased 9x5 inch loaf pans and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.


Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes; do not over bake.  Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter when done to prevent crust from getting hard.  Cool completely. 

LOL Tuesday

Settling In and pics of our new life

So everyone we moved!  Now we live in a new state (northeastern Oregon) and a totally new environment.  We moved mainly because my husband could not find a job even semi close to our home (there are no real businesses in our little town that pay well or even hire), so we had to make a decision.  We could no longer afford the massive experiences of the commute so it was move.  So Hubby started looking around at places to work.  Fortunately for us my husbands skills make it to where we could get a job just about anywhere, but most are in or near big cities which we don't like. So even though he was offered jobs in many places they just weren't right for different reasons.  Our biggest priority was going where God wanted us to go.  We prayed, our friends prayed, we asked for guidance and affirmations to make sure this was God led, and God was so faithful. When we got the offer for Hubbies new job everything just clicked, and we had so many affirmations that there was no doubt this is where we should go.  The company payed for us to move here and we are in a large town small city kind of place.  There is way more shopping than our old town, meaning two grocery stores and a dollar store and lots of restaurants! But the main draw for us was the massive amounts of outdoor recreation that is just minutes from our front door.

 For those of you who don't know I have spent my whole life in the desert.  Yes Washington state has a desert, a pretty big one actually but no one ever really visits.  It's nice in its way but I have always wanted to live somewhere green and preferably in the mountains.  I love to be in the mountains and forage for berries, mushrooms, fish, hunt, and camp.  Unfortunately in every place we have lived we were hours away from any mountains for recreation.  But now we are literally at the foot of the wallowa and blue mountains.  Every morning I wake up and see snow capped peaks and every day I take my children for a long walk next to the Powder River and marvel and all the natural beauty.

fishing less than 20 minutes from our house

viking boy on the stairs going to the kids bedroom

Princess in Waiting and Captain Submarine on a fishing trip

We have already gone fishing and I am scoping out areas for berry picking as the most delicious wild berry grows here!  The huckleberry!  I cant wait to pick them for pies, jams, and syrups.

I have a great book on wild berries and mushrooms and I am spending my time on learning identification.

We are living in a cute little house with a nice fenced yard only three blocks from my husbands new work so no more two hour commute and all the expense that went with it.  So far I love our new town and the people we have met, I miss my garden and fruit trees and our old church family but I know God has great things in store for us here.

I'm Back

To my faithful readers I am so sorry I've been quiet of late.  We were just in the middle of a move from our old town to a new one, a new house, and a new life.  And to top it all off Viking Boy age 3 got terrible food poisoning and was sick for days and Captain Submarine also got sick at the same time with a chest ailment and fever.  To say I have been busy is an understatement.

But now my friends we are unpacked and settled and everyone is healthy again so I look forward to  posting about our adventures in our new town.  Thanks for sticking with me!