Christys Multigrain Cereal Bread I Food

MULTIGRAIN BREAD RECIPE (SANDWICH BREAD)

Steps:

• Unplug your bread machine.
• Remove the bread pan from the bread machine.
• Pour the milk into the bread pan and then add the other ingredients. Place the instant yeast (bread machine yeast) in last and the yeast should not touch the liquid (until the bread machine is turned on and the ingredients start to be mixed together by the bread machine). Some bakers like to make a small indent on top of the flour to prevent the yeast from spilling into the liquids or mixing with the salt before the machine is turned on.
• Put the bread pan with ingredients back into unplugged bread machine.
• Plug in bread machine. Enter the "Dough" setting on your bread machine and then press the "Start" button.
• When the bread machine has finished making the bread dough, unplug the bread machine.
• Remove the bread pan (with the dough) from the bread machine.
• Now go to the instruction section below on "preparing the dough & baking the bread". FYI - Ignore the instructions for the electric stand mixer below if you are using a bread machine to make your dough. Skip down to the preparing dough section.
• Unplug your electric stand mixer.
• Remove the mixing bowl from the electric mixer.
• Insert a dough hook into the electric mixer.
• Pour the milk into the mixing bowl and then add the other ingredients. Place the instant yeast (bread machine yeast) in last and the yeast should not touch the liquid (until the electric mixer is turned on and the ingredients start to be mixed together). Some bakers like to make a small indent on top of the flour to prevent the yeast from spilling into the liquids or mixing with the salt before the machine is turned on.
• Place the mixing bowl back into the electric stand mixer.
• Plug in the electric mixer and use a low speed (i.e. setting 2) to mix the dough. Mix & knead the dough for 7-10 minutes.
• Turn off the electric mixer and unplug machine.
• Remove the mixing bowl from the electric mixer. Pour the dough into a second large mixing bowl that has been lightly "greased" with olive oil, melted butter, cooking spray, etc.
• Optional - Lightly coat the top of dough with vegetable oil in order to prevent dough exterior from drying out.
• Loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 60-90 minutes until it doubles roughly in size. See tips section for more information.
• After the dough has risen, go to the instruction section below on "preparing the dough & baking the bread".
• Sprinkle a little bit of flour onto a large cutting board.
• Remove the dough from the bread pan or mixing bowl and place the dough on the cutting board.
• Press down on the dough with your hands and create a "flattish" rectangle with the dough. The dough should be roughly 1 inch high.
• Roll up the dough into a tight "jelly roll". FYI - Please see this short instructional video for more information on how to shape the dough if you haven't shaped bread dough before. It is easier to watch & learn from this short video versus trying to explain the rolling technique step by step. There are also other instructional "dough shaping" video links in the tips section below.
• Place the rolled up dough into the bread pan.
• Press down on top of the dough so the edges of the dough press out towards the sides of the bread pan. This should result in little or no gaps between the dough and the bread pan. This helps the bread to turn into a nice loaf shape without any misshapen edges. Make sure that the top of the pressed down dough is roughly level (so one side isn't much higher than the other).
• Optional - Lightly coat the top of dough with vegetable oil in order to prevent dough exterior from drying out.
• Loosely cover the top of the bread pan with plastic wrap. Set the covered bread pan aside for 45-60 minutes for the dough to rise into a loaf shape. When the dough has risen modestly (1/2 inch to 1 inch) over the top of the bread pan, it is time to place the bread pan in the oven. FYI - Do not wait for the dough to rise higher (or the bread top will be too large after baking). The dough will continue to rise naturally in the oven.
• During this "rising" period, preheat the oven to 350 F. This should be done at least 10-15 minutes before you expect to put the dough & bread pan into oven.
• Optional - Just before you put the bread pan in the oven, you can use a pastry brush to add an egg wash (egg white) to the top of the dough. Then sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of multigrain on top of the "sticky" egg wash. This adds a more "authentic" multigrain bread appearance to the top of your bread.
• Place the bread pan in the (preheated) oven to bake at 350 F for 37-42 minutes. Wear oven mitts when dealing with a hot oven. Place the bread pan in the middle of the oven.
• Rotate the bread pan in the oven after 15-20 minutes (in order to ensure an even browning of the bread).
• After the 37-42 minute baking period has finished, remove the bread pan from the oven. Wear oven mitts. Optional - Use digital thermometer to confirm that the bread has been fully baked. See tips section.
• Remove the bread from the bread pan and place the bread on a wire cooling rack. Wear oven mitts.
• Optional - If you did not add the egg wash/multigrain on top of the dough, you can brush melted butter on top of the bread with a pastry brush (after the bread has been baked). This "basting" helps to create a more golden & tastier crust.
• Allow the bread to cool down on the wire cooling rack for 1-2 hours before slicing the bread.
• Please read the tips section for extra information on how to make this recipe successfully & to avoid common bread making problems.

HOMEMADE MULTIGRAIN BREAD

Steps:

• Add the multigrain flour to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large heat-proof mixing bowl. Pour in the boiling water, and carefully stir the flour and water with a rubber spatula until it forms a thick paste. Stir in the butter until well combined. Let the mixture cool for about 20 minutes.
• Once the multigrain mixture is warm to the touch and not hot, stir in the honey until thoroughly combined. Stir in the yeast (and vital wheat gluten if using, in that order). It's important to make sure the mixture truly is lukewarm before adding the yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.
• Add the all purpose flour, ¼ cup at a time, and knead until the dough ball is smooth. This will take about 10-15 minutes. The dough should be slightly sticky, but should not stick to a rubber spatula. Soft dough makes soft bread, so do not use more flour than necessary!
• Use the rubber spatula to clean the sides of the bowl, and form the dough into a smooth ball. Cover the bowl with a plate, and let it rise in a warm place for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the dough doubles in size.
• Once the first proofing is done, sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt over the dough and knead again for another 5 minutes to make sure the salt is evenly distributed.
• Shape the dough into a smooth dough ball, cover with a plate, and let it rise again in a warm place for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the dough doubles in size. If you are proofing the dough in the microwave like I do, you'll need another large mug of boiling water for the second proofing.
• While the dough is proofing, grease 2 loaf pans (9" x 5") with cold butter and set them aside. I use cold butter, as it's easier to handle and goes on in a thin layer. I simply take a cold stick of butter, peel back the wrapper, and rub it along the inside of the loaf pans to coat.
• After the second proofing is done, cut the dough into two equal portions. Knead and roll each piece into a loaf shape with a smooth top. On a clean work surface, spread the rolled oats in a thin layer.
• Very lightly brush the top of the loaves with water and gently flip the moistened top onto the thin layer of rolled oats. The oats will cling to the loaf. Then carefully place the loaves, oat-side up into the greased pans. Allow to rise for 1 more hour before baking, repeating the proofing protocol as in the first and second proofings.
• When you're halfway through the last proofing, preheat the oven to 375°F. When the third proofing is complete, bake the loaves in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes, until golden brown. If you tap the bread, and it sounds hollow, it's done.
• Cool for about 5 minutes, and carefully remove the hot bread from the pans. Transfer to a cooling rack to prevent the bread from steaming inside the loaf pan. Slice and serve!

CHRISTY'S MULTIGRAIN CEREAL BREAD I

Steps:

• Place ingredients into bread machine in order listed, select normal cycle, and let the bread machine do all of the work -or- Select dough cycle.
• When dough is finished rising, transfer from bread pan to oiled loaf pan.
• Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until top is puffy, about 15 to 30 minutes.
• Put bread in oven and set for 350 degrees Fahrenheit (do not preheat).
• Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, until top is golden and bottom sounds hollow when thumped.

MULTI-GRAIN BREAD WITH SESAME, FLAX AND POPPY SEEDS

Steps:

• Place cereal in large bowl. Pour 2 cups boiling water over. Let stand until mixture cools to between 105°F. and 115°F., about 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle yeast over cereal. Add 1 cup bread flour, oil, sugar and salt and stir until smooth. Gradually mix in enough remaining bread flour to form dough. Cover dough; let rest 15 minutes.
• Turn out dough onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 10 minutes. Oil large bowl. Add dough to bowl; turn to coat. Cover bowl with clean kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm area until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Mix all seeds in bowl. Punch down dough. Turn out onto lightly oiled surface. Knead briefly. Shape into 12x4-inch loaf.Sprinkle baking sheet with 2 teaspoons seeds. Place loaf atop seeds. Cover with towel. Let rise in warm area until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Position 1 oven rack in center and 1 just below center in oven. Place baking pan on lower rack and preheat oven to 425°F. Brush loaf with water. Sprinkle with remaining seed mixture. Using sharp knife, cut 3 diagonal slashes in surface of loaf. Place baking sheet with loaf in oven. Immediately pour 2 cups water into hot pan on lower rack in oven (water will steam).
• Bake loaf until golden and crusty and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.(Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in plastic; store at room temperature.)
• *Available at natural foods stores.