One of the biggest changes we made when we discovered our son was allergic to preservatives in our everyday food, was change our everyday bread. We could no longer purchase bread at the grocery store because of all the chemicals in each loaf, and the all natural breads available were both too expensive at five dollars a piece and too hearty for my kids to enjoy. What to do? Make our own.
I attempted so many recipes, all of which were good in some respect. But we had not landed on a daily bread that would make toast or a turkey sandwich happy. Then after tweaking and fielding complaints and fiddling some more with the recipe I landed upon our daily bread. (I wish there were a sound bite that played when you read ‘our daily bread.’) This recipe makes everyone happy – the butter people, the peanut butter people, the veggie sandwich people, the grilled cheese people – everyone. So, I humbly and boldly share the recipe with you in hopes that if you are like our family, in search of your daily bread (again imagine sound bite), then our R&D will be of great use to you.
Everyday Bread aka Whole Wheat Bread
2 1/2 tsp. dried yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water
2 T oil or butter (whatever your preference or mood of the day)
1 T honey
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups bread flour, plus extra for kneading as needed
1 cup whole wheat flour
Oil a large bowl and butter an 8 by 5 inch loaf pan and set both aside.
Combine yeast with 1/4 cup water and set aside until it becomes foamy – around 10 minutes or so.
Combine remaining water in mixer with knead blade attached. Add oil, honey, salt and your foamy yeast. (Appetizing right?) Mix together and then begin to add your flour – both bread and whole wheat. Once all your flour is in the mixer allow the mixer to knead the dough for you for about 5 minutes, then remove the dough and knead by hand for a few more minutes until completely smooth.
Turn the dough into the oiled bowl, turn it over, then cover and wait until doubled (about an hour). Punch down the dough, releasing all pent up irritation from your day, then knead a few times shaping your dough to fit the loaf pan. Place dough in pan and let it rise for 35 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Bake about 50 minutes.
Cool completely unless you can’t wait then burn your fingers a little slicing it and devour the fresh bread you just made!