Homemade bread -do any of you have tips?

[Roseofsharon]

Hi All, I am new to all this and trying to learn to be prepared and feed my family better at the same time. I want to start making homemade bread. Do any of you grind your own wheat? What type of grinder do you use? What is your best tip? Where should I start? thanks,

[grace]

I normaly make all of our own bread products. I have been slacking off a bit lattly though and buying it. Baby's due in a few weeks and I'm just tired lol.

My recipes are up on my website www.homestead-acres.com

I don't grind my own flour but I'd love to! I borrowed my friends grain mill to test out and liked it a lot. She has the Family Grain mill. I found it very easy to hand turn and the flour was nice. Made the bread taste so much better!

My first few loafs turned out like bricks lol. All I can say is find an easy recipe and keep practicing. After a while it'll be easy to do from memory.

Kim

[Guest Guest]

[Roseofsharon]

Thanks for answering -I have made yeast bread MANY years ago with my mom -but not by myself in my own kitchen -I have made the sweet kind of bread from a starter someone passes on to you -I am trying to get into whole grains now though...I have made all kinds of bannana bread, muffens, ect (and some of the muffens I made from a friends fresh ground whole wheat were awesome) I have been trying some Sue Gregg (www.surgregg.com) recires which use alot of whole grains like brown rice and oats you grind in the blender and everything is comming out good -but I have boys = big eaters -and they like sandwiches and hense the need for bread... Also I need to prepare - well for everything -just catching on to that concept and wheat seams to store forever (unground berries) so I guess that was in the back of my mind with the grinding my own wheat idea (it is also very nutritious -still has the bran and germ which store ground must take out) You are probally right I need to experiment with store bought first though -any recipes- suggestions you have would be much appreciated!!! Thanks,

[Guest Guest]

Homey gave me this recipe years ago and it is an absolutely awesome bread...I make it in a bread machine, but I'm sure it could be made by hand..it's a heavy, darkish kinda bread with a hint of sweetness...my kids love it toasted!

 

Oatmeal Bread

 

 

 

1 pkg. active dry yeast

 

1 cup quick-cooking oats

 

3 cups bread flour (I substitute 1 cup of whole wheat)

 

1 tsp. salt

 

½ cup molasses (I use ¼ C molasses and ¼ C honey)

 

1 Tbs. vegetable oil (I use flax seed oil from health store)

 

1-1/4 cups plus 1 Tbs. warm water

 

In bread machine pan, place ingredients in order given. Select “white bread” setting. Bake according to bread machine directions. Yield: 1 large loaf.

 

Note: Sometimes I find that the dough is a little too moist as it's being mixed in the bread machine, so I'll just add some more oatmeal and/or wheat germ.

 

 

 

 

[ricardo]

Wholesome Homemade Honey Whole Wheat Bread

 

This recipe makes 4 loaves, you can freeze the rest.

 

2 envelopes yeast

4 cups water

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup molasses

1/2 cup honey

2 teaspoons salt

6 cups whole-wheat flour

4 cups white flour

 

Dissolve yeast in warm water.

 

In a large bowl, combine butter, molasses, honey and salt and mix well.

 

Add yeast mixture and then gradually add flours.

 

Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth.

 

Place in buttered bowl and let rise until double.

 

Punch down and let rest for a few minutes.

 

Divide dough into 4 parts and shape into loaves.

 

Place in greased pans and let rise for about an hour.

 

Bake at 375* for 35 to 40 minutes.

[ricardo]

Quote:

Dissolve yeast in warm water.

In a large bowl, combine ingredients and mix well.

Add yeast mixture and then gradually add flour or flours.

Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth.

Place in buttered or oiled bowl and cover with dish towl.

Let rise until double.

Punch down and let rest for a few minutes.

Divide dough into 4 parts for loaves or shape into rolls.

Place in greased pans and let rise for about an hour.

Bake at 375* for 35 to 40 minutes.

When making homemade bread these are the directions you
will use for *almost all* of the recipes.

It's like making tea. The steps will be the same but the
bag could be filled with different leaves.

Same steps, different ingredients.

[ricardo]

Whole Wheat Bread

 

Makes 4 loaves

 

2 Tbs. yeast

5 c. warm water

1/3 c. honey

1/3 c. oil

2 eggs

1/3 c. potato flakes

1 Tbs. salt

4 to 5 c. flour

 

Dissolve yeast in warm water.

 

In a large bowl, combine ingredients and mix well.

 

Add yeast mixture and then gradually add flour or flours.

 

Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth.

 

Place in buttered or oiled bowl and cover with dish towl.

 

Let rise until double.

 

Punch down and let rest for a few minutes.

 

Divide dough into 4 parts for loaves or shape into rolls.

 

Place in greased pans and let rise for about an hour.

 

Bake at 375* for 35 to 40 minutes.

 

[ricardo]

I have a PS to add.

 

When I dissolve my yeast in water, I only add my yeast

to 1 cup of warm water and not the whole amount that

the recipe calls for.

 

This way it is sitting off to the side working while you

are combining everyting else.

 

 

 

[Roseofsharon]

Thanks!!I cannot wait to actually try these recipes. I am working for a few days at a friend's herb shop while they move. As soon as I have a day home again (after I get this huge mess from me being gone for days under control) I will be baking!

[ricardo]

I can't wait! I hope you get great results!

 

 

 

[Freetobeme]

When I make bread, I dissolve the yeast in the warm water and add a little of the flour or whatever sweetener I'm using (honey, sugar, molasses, etc.). That provides food for the yeastie beasties and makes them active faster. "Yeast does not live by water alone!"

 

I also like to add various herbs to bread. You can add oregano, basil, garlic powder, whatever appeals to you. Just put it in after the yeast is all soft and bubbly and before you add the dry ingredients. That way it is distributed more evenly. I suppose you could also mix it with the dry ingredients if using dry herbs, but I just always have tossed them in with the liquid.