FlaxWheat Bread

These days, on the weekend, we make a little bread for the week.  Its really cool what a little flour and a KitchenAid mixer can do in an afternoon.  It's certainly not artisan bread, but the results are pretty good.  This is a quick and easy recipe for wheat bread with a little flax seed for added nutrition. I used a KitchenAid mixer for the kneading, but you can do this by hand as well.

Ingredients:*

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 1/4 tbs honey
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 tbs flax seed
2 tbs melted butter
1 tbs honey
1 1/2 tsp fine salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Instructions:

Place the warm water, yeast, honey, flax seed, and bread flour in the bowl of the mixer, and set on mix speed for about a minute. Once, a rough doughy mixture forms, leave it alone for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

Add the melted butter, extra honey, salt, and whole wheat flour. Set the mixer on speed 2, and knead with the dough hook. After several minutes, the dough should look elastic and springy.

Stop the mixer, and empty the dough out on a floured counter. Form the dough into a tight ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover with a wet towel and allow the dough to rise and double in size (about 45 mins.).

After the dough has risen, punch the dough down to remove any air bubbles, and shape into a greased loaf pan. Cover with a wet towel and allow to double in size (about 30 mins.). Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, with the tray positioned in the middle of the oven. Place an oven-proof pan filled with water in the bottom-most tray.

After the dough has risen again, place the loaf pan in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. Once baked, carefully remove the bread on to a cooling rack, and allow to cool thoroughly before storing.

* The ingredient quantities are estimates. So, it may take some trial and error before you perfect this recipe.