Oatmeal Bread

After I had baked my first loaf of bread, I started seeing something on all the recipes and directions for baking bread

“Do not be afraid”

Well, I’m not sure if it is because I hadn’t seen that before I started baking or not, but I had never been afraid of bread, yeast or otherwise. I like to think of yeast as a friend, but that’s just me.

Anyway, Today I made up my very first bread recipe! And for the debut of Cooking in College I present to you:

Oatmeal Bread

What you Need:

2 C oatmeal

1.5 C boiling milk

2Tbl Yeast

1C Warm water (Not hot, otherwise you’ll kill the yeast)

1/3C  sugar

2Tbl Cinnamon

1Tbl allspice

1Tbl molasses

5C flour (I used whole wheat)

3Tbl Honey

Additional fistful of oats

What You Do:

Preheat your oven to 350 Degrees F

Combine Warm Water, Yeast, Sugar in a bowl. Stir with fork to mix and let stand for ten minuets

Combine Boiling Milk and Oatmeal in another bowl and let stand until the mixture has cooled enough that you can add the yeast without worrying about killing it.

Add Cinnamon, Allspice, Molasses and combine.

Add flour one cup at a time until dough becomes solid enough to kneed.

Kneed dough for five minutes, then set aside in clean bowl until double in size (about two hours)

Punch dough down and place in well oiled bread pan.

Microwave the honey for about 15 seconds, then brush on top of the loaf.

Sprinkle fistful of oatmeal over the top of the bread.

Bake in oven for 50-60 minutes.

When bread is finished baking, remove it from the pan and let cool for about 15 minutes.

See? That wasn’t so hard. No need to be afraid!

This bread is amazing. I went to give my Boyfriend a bite, and was actually glad that I could not find him. Oh well, he’ll get some later.

Final step you guys! Butter liberally and enjoy.