Lassy Bread Food

LASSY BREAD

Steps:

• Place raisins into a heatproof bowl and pour in enough boiling water to cover. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or a plate to seal; allow to stand overnight.
• Dissolve sugar in the lukewarm water in a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the water and allow to soften and bubble, about 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the milk, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until lukewarm (105 to 110 degrees F).
• Once the milk has cooled, drain the raisins, and add them to the milk. Stir in the yeast mixture and molasses. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, mace, and clove. Stir half of the flour into the milk mixture with a wooden spoon and beat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add remaining flour and stir until a moist dough is formed.
• Place dough on a flat surface and knead until dough becomes smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding more flour as necessary to keep dough from sticking. Place into a large, oiled bowl; cover, and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Lightly oil or grease two loaf pans and set aside. Divide dough in half and shape into 2 loaves, place into prepared pans, cover, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake loaves in preheated oven 1 hour, or until they are nicely browned and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

MOLASSES GOLDEN RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients except the raisins to the breadmaker and run on the dough cycle, for my breadmaker this is the order given and the dough cycle lasts 90 minutes. Note: I like to mix the warm water, milk and molasses and "proof" the yeast in it for about 10 minutes before adding the remaining ingredients.
• When the dough cycle has finished start it again, and add the raisins, let it run for 5 to 10 minutes to mix all the raisins in and then stop it.
• Make dough into a smooth loaf and place in a greased 9" x 5" loaf pan.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let raise until doubled.
• Bake in a preheated 350F oven about 35-45 minutes, loaf should be golden and sound hollow when tapped.