Sunday, April 5, 2009

Molasses Oat Bread

Are you ready for one of the best things that you can put in your mouth? Can you handle an explosion of flavor? Are you ready for the earth to shake?

If not, please leave now:)

This is the most amazing recipe I make. So simple and basic, but good. We use this at our house for all things bread related. Sandwiches, toast, nests, or just with butter. That's the best. Fresh from the oven with butter melting into it.

Oh momma.

Huh? Oh, sorry.

So here we go.

This isn't your typical bread dough. Normally you dissolve the yeast in the warm water and add all your ingredients after that. This recipe is the complete opposite. The yeast is one of the last things you do.

Let's get started.

In the bowl of an electric mixer pour in the oatmeal;salt and sugar;
then the oil and molasses.Pour the boiling water over all;and stir to combine.Stick in your thermometer that was your mothers (and shed a little tear), or just your thermometer;and walk away. But keep checking back. You want the temperature to be between 110 and 115 degreesso you can add the yeast.Now it's time for the 9-10 cups of flour. I put the guard on my bowl and use the pouring spout to pour the flour in; a half cup at a time.When all the flour is incorporated and the dough looks nice and happy pour it out onto a floured board.This cutting board is my most favorite thing in my whole kitchen. It was built right into the counter. It makes me happy;)Get your hands into it and press; fold over;and press again. Don't be afraid, you can't hurt it at this point!

Keep kneading and sprinkling it with flour if it starts to stick. When the dough is smooth and elastic it's done. I form it into a circle;drop it into a greased bowl, cover it, and place it in an obviously dirty oven.And I just grabbed that cookie sheet out from under my '54 Buick to try and disrupt the filth that is my oven. Sadly it didn't work. And sadly I don't have a '54 Buick either.

I place a measuring cup full of steaming hot water in there with the dough and close it up tight.

When an hour and a half if over pull it out and take a peek. It should be nicely risen.If you press your finger into it and the indention stays, it's ready.Punch it down; and grab a tool like this one.Please don't ask me what it's called. It's just wonderful. I use it for all the bread that I make. The inches marked on it are really handy when rolling something out like my Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread.Or when my children can't find an actual ruler anywhere in your house. Sadly it looks like it's been under my Buick, too.

Cut the dough into three even sections; and place into three greased loaf pans.No worry about making sure it's perfect on top. I like a little unevenness to it. Makes it look more rustic.

Um, yeah, not really. I just don't need that kind of pressure.

Cover the loaves back up and put them in your dirty oven with fresh hot water.

Please don't tell me if you don't have a dirty oven. I just couldn't live with myself if I knew.

When the hour is over, check the loaves for a nice round top. Perfect! Cover them again and pre-heat your oven.

When the oven is hot uncover them and slide them in. While they bake go try to accomplish something while the smell of their goodness fills your house. Personally I can't concentrate. I just stand in the kitchen with my knife and butter....waiting.

After baking to a nice golden brown, place them on wire racks and cool for a few minutes.Run a knife around the edges and pop the bread out when the pans are cooled enough to handle.Cool completely.

From here I make Shawn slice them for me with an electric slicer that we got as a wedding gift from The Funk's. Kind of like the type a deli uses to slice meat. We leave one loaf in the fridge and freeze the other two. Wrapped in foil they will keep for a long time. But it won't last long, I promise!

Molasses Oat Bread

4 c. boiling water
2 c. old-fashioned oats
1 c. molasses
3 T. canola oil
1/4 c. sugar
3 t. salt
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
9-10 c. all purpose flour

In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cool to 110-115 degrees. Add yeast; mix well. Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
Punch dough down and divided into thirds. Place in three greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Enjoy! And let me know what you think!!

10 comments:

Robin said...

Yum!!! Can you just ship me one of those babies?

deedee said...

I was thinking the same thing - can you ship one to me too?

Kelly said...

I can't wait to try some of that....oh yummmy!!

Loren said...

Thank you! These instructions are so clear I don't think i have an excuse if I mess it up! Looks soooo good!

Cozyflier said...

Nice try ladies, I tried to get her to ship a loaf down here to TX, no go!!!!

I guess I'll have to figure out how to make bread!

I still say you could have shipped a loaf to your favorite Aunt!!!

Melissa said...

We love this recipe. I have made it with honey instead of molasses though as I'm out of molasses and keep forgetting to buy more. This is Garrett's favorite bread. He is the one waiting with knife and butter for the loaves to come out of the oven.

jean said...

So this is why you're not out training for your next race - you're busy making yummy bread! I keep saying that I don't have time to bake bread, but I guess I'm going to have to break down & try...

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

i love that photo of the water pouring into the bowl! (Not to mention the bread.)

Dr. White said...

I'm making it RIGHT NOW!! Have you ever used whole wheat flour? If so, how did it turn out? Also, do you use sorghum molasses? It's all I had in the house and it was too dreadful outside to go to the store...

Dr. White said...

Oh. My. Goodness. The loaves just came out of the oven and this is the best sandwich bread ever! My 7-year-old votes it as best in the world. Thanks for sharing your recipe!!!!