Oatmeal Wheat Bread

I love, love, love, love, love homemade bread.

More specifically, I love this bread.  It shocks me sometimes how simple, how easy, it is to create gorgeous loaves of bread at home.  How moist, delicious and insanely addictive they are fresh out of the oven, and how quickly they disappear when I leave them on the countertops.

And I love how easy it is to create yummy new variations, just by changing a few ingredients.  Lately, as I've said before, I've been partial to the half bread flour, half whole wheat flour combination.  But I've also usually added butter, eggs, or some other ingredient to the bread to make it moist and richer.  This time, though, I tried something different. This one was simple -- flour, water, salt, sugar.

Who would believe that it would turn out just as moist and delicious as any more calorie-dense recipe I've made?  Well, it did. This bread is really, truly great, and would make an awesome snack on the way to work in the morning, after school for the kids, or before dinner on a special night -- it's that versatile, and that good.

Finally, the winner of the Stonyfield Farm giveaway, is Comment #38, Steven!  I'll be emailing today for your address, congratulations!

Oatmeal Wheat Bread

INGREDIENTS

1 packet yeast

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup instant oats, plus additional oatmeal for sprinkling on the loaf

1/2 cup water

3 cups whole wheat flour

3 cups bread flour

1 3/4 cups warm water

1 tsp sugar

2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

Proof the yeast in 1/4 cup of water with 1 tsp of sugar. At the same time, microwave the oatmeal grains and 1/2 cup of water until oatmeal has absorbed the water, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. When the yeast and water turns milky/creamy, mix it with the flour, the oatmeal, the additional 1 3/4 cups of water, and the salt and knead for about 10 minutes. If dough is too sticky, add a little bit of flour to make it easier to knead. Place the dough in a greased bowl and allow it to rise for 90 minutes, or until doubled in size. Punch down the dough, knead it again briefly, and place it in a greased pan for baking.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees, and allow the dough to rise for an additional 45 minutes, or until it rises to the size you want. Sprinkle some additional oats on the top of the loaf. Bake for 25 minutes, allow to cool, and slice.