A Sunny Place

100% WW Bread making tips - a couple things I've learned...

We have changed over to 100% WW bread - and I use WW flour in cookies, and pizza crusts.  If you haven't already done so - take time to do it slowly - start with half and half and then slowly add more WW and less white. 

If I have time to go grind at my Sister-in-law's house then I come home and have a grand baking day - bread, pancakes, and last time I did muffins, & I do tortillas when I am out.  This cuts down in what you might call the "inconvenience" of home made and makes it quite convenient to run to the freezer and pull out what you need.

Some key tips to WW bread that have actually taken me some time to learn.  My notes are all using an older kitchenaid model mixer.

-- Do not add a lot of flour! Less is better and will make a lighter bread.  As soon as  the dough clings to the hook and clears the bowl - don't add any more flour!  The dough will be slightly sticky, that's ok!

--Make sure you allow the dough to knead a minimum of 10 minutes, don't hurry it!

--If your dough falls, then just punch it down and allow it to rise again, you let it rise too long!

--an extra rising will actually make a lighter loaf of bread!

-After you have baked it, place a slightly damp towel over the loaves as they are cooling - this will soften the crusts nicely.

-- I truly think Prairie Gold makes about the lightest best WW bread out there!! :0)

The less flour one is probably the most important tip - it took me a while to realize this and I made some pretty heavy loaves and thankfully my husband was a good sport about eating heavy daily bread, until I figured it out.  The children now prefer it and complain when I occasionally grab a store bought loaf and don't have homemade.  I've noticed the store bought tastes somewhat cardboard like especially after becoming accustomed to bread made with the fresh ground flour!

www.breadbeckers.com is an excellant web site for recipes, and resources.  I use her cookbook and her bread recipe is my staple recipe!  She also has a lot of information about the health benefits of eating daily bread (made with fresh ground).  Thanks for reading! :0)

Enjoy your daily bread!!

blessings!

wendy

I agree

10:50, Friday, February 1, 2008 .. Posted by blurose

Prairie Gold is the best wheat and I have tried several brands. I love making our ww bread and use Urbanhomemakers bread recipe. Glad to see a fellow bread maker.
Blessings, Jeanette

Untitled Comment

10:47, Saturday, February 2, 2008 .. Posted by jodalton

I have never heard of Prairie Gold flour, where do you find it?. I love making bread and have done so for over 40 years, but I always like to try new recipes. even though my large family in mostly on their own, I still bake 6 loaves each week and give some away and put the rest in the freezer to use during the week. I enjoyed your poste. Talk to you again, jodalton