Grandma’s Oatmeal Bread

Ingredients

Mix in very large bowl or use stand mixer:

• 3 c.water, lukewarm
• 2 T. active dry yeast ( 2 1/4 oz pkgs)
• 1/2 c. honey
• 1/4 c.oil
• 3 c. whole wheat flour

Mix well and let rise until double in size.

Mix into bowl with yeast and use medium speed–

• 1 c. cracked wheat
• 3-5 cups flour (use 2 cups or so first to mix, save rest for kneading)
• 1 c. oat bran

Directions

1 egg white plus 1 T. water, to brush on top of leaves. OR, 1 T. unsalted butter to rub on baked loaves)

Mix the cracked wheat, 2 c. flour and bran for 10 minutes or 15 if by hand. Use a bit more flour to get the dough to pull away from bowl.

Lightly flour the counter top or a cutting board. Pour dough out and knead for 10-15 minutes by hand.

Put in very large oiled bowl, turning dough over to get all sides oiled.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a towel., keeping bowl out of drafts.

Let dough rise until doubled for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours.

Punch down dough, and form into 2 loaves.

Oil or spray 2 loaf fans and place loaves in pans for final rising.

Let rise until doubled which will be about 45-60 minutes.

Preheat  oven to 375 degrees. Now add the egg and water if desired, brushing over tops of dough.

Bake 30-40 minutes, knocking top of loaves to get the hollow sound.

Remove from baking pans and cool on racks. When cool, cut each loaf into 12-16 slices.

0mg sodium per loaf.