Ellas Absolutely Perfect Cracked Wheat Bread Food

CRACKED WHEAT BREAD I

Steps:

• Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select regular/light cycle; press Start.

100% HONEY WHOLE WHEAT/CRACKED WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of your electric mixer (I use a KitchenAid ) dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, honey, oil, salt and eggs. Mix until blended.
• Add 2 1/2 cups of the flour and beat for 3 to 4 minutes. Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a warm towel and allow sponge to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.
• Mix in remaining flour reserving 1/2 C for kneading. At this point you may add the softened cracked wheat if desired. This may seem a little stickier than you may be used to but as long as your fingers don't stick in the dough you have the right amount of flour.
• Turn out onto floured board or counter top or use the dough hook from your mixer. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until elastic and smooth.
• Put in a large buttered bowl and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk.
• Punch dough down. On lightly floured board or counter top divide into 3 equal portions. Shape into loaves and place in buttered loaf pans approximately 8" X 4".
• Cover and let rise for the third time until doubled in bulk.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. The bread tests done when the crust make a hollow sound when tapped.
• Remove from pans and brush with melted butter. Cover with a hot damp towel to soften crust if desired.

CRACKED WHEAT BREAD (FOR BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Add ingredients to bread bucket in order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Select desired setting. I use the dough setting on my machine. Press "start".
• If you used a regular setting, remove the finished bread when it is finished baking.
• If you used the dough setting, dump the dough onto a floured countertop when the cycle is finished, knead a few times to remove air bubbles, shape into a loaf and place in greased loaf pan. Let rise until doubled or at least somewhat bigger, about 1 hour.
• Bake for 35 minutes in oven preheated to 400ºF.

CRACKED WHEAT BREAD II

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in cracked wheat and simmer for 10 minutes; let cool to lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Pour the cracked wheat mixture into a large bowl. Stir in the butter, salt, molasses, honey, milk, yeast mixture, whole wheat flour and 2 cups of the bread flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
• When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until the loaves sound hollow when tapped on top and bottom. Cool on racks.

THE WHOLE EARTH CRACKED WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups boiling water over the cracked wheat. Add the honey reserving 1 teaspoon for later, salt and oil.
• Cool.
• Dissolve the yeast in 2/3 cup warm water and add the 1 teaspoon honey.
• Combine with the cooled cracked wheat mixture. Add the flour and mix thoroughly.
• Place in a buttered bowl and cover, let rise for 1 hour.
• Punch down and let rise for another 30 minutes.
• Punch down and turn out on a floured board.
• Knead well.
• Shape into 2 loaves and place in loaf pans.
• Bake at 350 until golden brown.
• Check after 30-40 minutes.
• Check for doneness by tapping on bottom of loaf, if it sounds hollow, it's done. If not, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes.