OATMEAL BREAD

For a change we baked this Oatmeal Bread, most of the time I did sweet bread on a regular basis. I need new and healthier ways to bake bread. This seems a perfect recipe to add to my collection.

After going through various sources, I re-create them since most recipes called for molasses, soaking the oat for several hours and using bread machine. I opt for brown sugar and used butter instead of shortening, done it manually.

When heating the milk and the rest of ingredients you could use microwave but make sure they are not piping hot. If not cool down to lukewarm before proceeding.

This recipe is still among my absolute favorite yeast bread recipes. It turns out great with nutty flavor of oat, right amount of salt and lightly sweetened. It's my hearty breakfast of the day!

OATMEAL BREAD
Yield  :   One loaf

2 1/2 C all purpose flour
1/4 C warm water
2 1/4 tsp dry yeast
3/4 C milk
1 C rolled oat
1 tsp salt
3 T brown sugar
2 T shortening
1 tsp sugar

METHOD

* Combine water, 1tsp sugar and yeast in a small bowl, let stand for 15 minutes until frothy.

* In a glass bowl, combine milk, oat, salt, brown sugar and shortening, heat until lukewarm using microwave oven.

* In a mixing bowl, combine milk mixture and yeast, gradually add the flour until stiff dough is formed.

* Knead by hand for 10 minutes or use stand mixer until elastic.

* Transfer dough onto oiled and covered bowl, let rise for 1 1/2-2 hours.

* Punch the dough, flatten into rectangle then fold into 3. Shape into loaf.

* Place the dough into greased 9 x 5 loaf pan, covered and let sit for 60 minutes. Towards the end of rising time, preheat the oven @ 190 C.

* Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove and cool on rack.

Linking to  Yeastspotting 10-29-10
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