Homemade Brown Bread

Homemade Brown Bread @cookingwithjudy
Homemade Brown Bread
Homemade Brown Bread is a delightful experience that combines the warmth of the kitchen with the joy of creating something wholesome, healthy and nourishing. Whether you are a seasoned baker or trying your hand at bread-making for the first time, this Brown Bread recipe is a straight path to a delicious outcome. So preheat your oven, gather your ingredients and lets begin the satisfying process of baking homemade brown bread that will surely call for another slice.
INGREDIENTS
• Warm Milk - 1 cup
• Sugar - 2 tablespoons
• Yeast - ½ tablespoon
• Wheat Flour - 3 cups
• Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
• Water - ½ cup +/- depending on your flour
• Salt - 1 teaspoon
• Butter - 1 teaspoon melted (to brush when out of oven)
METHOD :
• In a large mixing bowl, take one cup of warm milk.
• Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ tablespoon of yeast.
• Mix well and allow the yeast to activate for about 20 minutes.
• When the yeast is activated and is frothy, add 3 cups of wheat flour.
• Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Add ½ cup water and knead for about 10 minutes till soft and supple. I kneaded in the Kitchen-aid stand mixer, but you can do this by hand as well, same results.
• Cover the bowl with cling wrap or cover and allow to rise till double in size. It may take 1 to 2 hours depending on the humidity and weather,
• When dough is double in size, punch back all the air and knead for another 5 minutes till soft and the dough when pulled stretches without breaking.
• Take the bread mould and grease nicely with butter or oil.
• Flatten the dough twice and fold and roll into a log shape with width the size of the bread-mould. Do this twice.
• Finally keep the dough in the bread-mould and cover with a cloth and allow to rise till nearly ¾ height of the bread mould. (May take 45 minutes to 1 hour roughly). Observe and act accordingly.
• When well risen, brush the top with pastry brush dipped in melted butter. Take care not to deflate the dough.
• Preheat oven to 180 deg. C and bake the bread for roughly 40-50 minutes.
• When out of oven, demould, apply butter on edges (optional) and keep on a wire rack to cool.
• Cut into slices and serve with jam and butter.
Nothing more satisfying than a freshly baked bread loaf in the comfort of your kitchen, knowing very well that only healthy ingredients have gone into it.