Bread Packets

Using your whole wheat is so fun! If you have a grinder, there is nothing like melt in your mouth, warm whole wheat bread. Some recipes I have tried leave the bread dry and crumb-like, while others are lacking flavor. Some take so incredibly long to make that I have to plan a whole day! I don't have time for that- so, I have been on a quest for the perfect whole wheat recipe- one that tastes divine, isn't dry and crumbly, and is FAST! I found one that I really like. This came from Crystal at www.everydayfoodstorage.net which is one of my favorite websites! One thing that she suggests, and that I have incorporated, is making bread packets. After you grind your flour (or if you purchase whole wheat flour), make up bread packets. Each packet contains the dry ingredients of the bread in a large Ziplok bag, and will make 2 loaves. When you are ready for hot bread, just put the water, yeast, oil or butter, bread packet, and vinegar together. Knead for 12 minutes with the dough hook (can do by hand as well). Her recipe has the dough rise twice. I don't do that. Here is a tip: After you are done kneading the bread dough, cut the dough in half. Roll out with a rolling pin like you are going to make cinnamon rolls. Roll up the dough and place in bread pan. Do the same for the other loaf. Let raise only once, in the pan. (See photos at end of post)

Here is the recipe:

EZ Wheat Bread recipe (This is for 2 loaves)

2 1/2 cup warm water
2 Tblsp active dry yeast
1/2 cup honey or 2/3 cup brown sugar
5.5 cups whole wheat flour (or whatever combination white/wheat you like..I use 100% hard white wheat).
1/2 cup wheat gluten
2 tsp salt
4 Tblsp nonfat non instant dry milk
2 Tblsp butter/margarine/oil
2 Tblsp vinegar
½ cup potato flakes (NOT potato pearls)

Mix ingredients in order listed in mixing bowl of mixer with dough hook attachment (like kitchen-aid) for 12-15 minutes. Let rise until double, 1- 1 1/2 hours. Punch down, and shape into loaf or rolls. Let rise again until double and bake 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when lightly tapped.

If you are making this recipe in a bread machine, follow your bread machine’s directions for wheat or whole grain selection and add the ingredients in the order listed for their recommendations. (only one loaf will fit in a bread maker)

EZ White Bread (This is for just 1 loaf)

1 1/8 cups warm water
1 3/4 - 2 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tblsp sugar (you can use a little more sugar if you like your dough a little sweeter)
3 cups flour
1 Tblsp vital wheat gluten (remember you don’t need as much gluten if you’re not using whole wheat flour)
1 tsp salt
2 Tblsp nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 Tblsp butter/margarine or oil
1/4 cup potato flakes
(you don’t really need vinegar for white bread, remember the dough enhancers are primarily needed for whole wheat bread)

Add the ingredients in the order listed into a mixer bowl (like a kitchen-aid) with a dough hook attachment and mix on low for 10-12 minutes. Or mix it on the dough cycle in your bread machine.
After all the mixing is complete, if the dough still seems too gooey and you are unable to handle it, add 1 Tblsp flour at a time, and mix after each addition until the dough is manageable with your hands.

Let rise 45 mins -1 hour, punch down and use to make bread, cinnamon rolls, cookie sheet pizza, rolls, or anything else you can think of! Let rise after you have made your creation and bake according to the direction of the recipe you are making.
If you are making it into bread, form into a loaf at this time, place in a loaf pan, let rise in a warm place 45 min -1 hour and bake 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
If you are making this recipe in a bread machine. Follow your bread machine’s directions and add the ingredients in the order listed in their recommendations. (only one loaf will fit in a bread maker)

Note: Use brown sugar if you are making the packets. If you are making the recipe to use then, use honey, or dried honey powder.
Bread Packet

Dough after it has been kneaded in Kitchenaid for 12 minutes

Dough rolled out

Rolling dough up to put in pans

Dough ready to raise

Dough ready for oven

Finished product! (In less than 1 1/2 hours!)

Related Posts by Categories

Widget by Hoctro | DreamyDonkey