10 Grain Bread

Have you ever read the ingredients on a package of store bought bread? You have to really search hard to find one without all those preservatives in your average grocery store. I make my own often because it tastes great and because I know exactly what it has in it...and more importantly what it doesn't!

I love homemade bread. I love the feel of the dough in my hands and I love the way the house smells. This bread is made with cooked cereal. You can try it with any cooked leftover cereal.

You will need:

• 1/4 cup 10 grain cereal cooked for 10 minutes in 3/4 cup water - cooled
• 1 cup warmed milk (in microwave 30 seconds)
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp dry yeast
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 3 cup all purpose or bread flour (you can add a bit more for kneading if necessary)
• 1 tsp salt

Step 1: take cereal and place in a small pan.  Stir and cook for 10 minutes. Cover and let cool.

Step 2: in a large bowl add warmed milk (30 seconds in microwave), cooked cereal, sesame seeds, honey, yeast and olive oil. Let stand 10 minutes to activate yeast.

Step 3: add rolled oats and leave 5 minutes to soften. Add 2 cups flour and then the salt last. Stir with a wooden spoon in the bowl until it gets too stiff. Turn out contents on counter and add additional flour in small amounts kneading until the flour is absorbed. Knead the dough until it no longer feels sticky.

Step 4: let rise in a covered bowl in a warm place 2 hours.

Step 5: gently deflate on a counter with a sprinkle of flour and roll up. Place in an oiled pan and let rise 30-45 minutes. If you cover with plastic wrap make sure to oil the plastic or it will stick to the bread.

Step 6: bake in a 400 degree F oven 30-45minutes. You are looking for the loaf to be nicely browned on top. let cool.