Pinterest Picked - English Muffin Bread

Who hasn't heard of Pinterest!  It's the booming idea board for millions of creative (and not so creative!) minds to steal ideas from one-another!  Pinterest can be agonizing for the perfectionist but can rescue those that struggle to envision details!!

I've pinned exactly 215 recipes in the past 14 months.

When I joined, I never realized how HARD it would be to actually USE these pins!

So, I have started actually making some of these pinned recipes!  I will post all about those that have succeeded and even those that will inevitably fail!

My first recipe, is a complete success!  It's even addicting in my household.  Bread, glorious bread!

Who doesn't love a good english muffin?  Those nooks and crannies full of buttery goodness! Who wants to pay almost $4.00 for 6 muffins?  NOT ME!

Here is a wonderful recipe for English Muffin Bread.  It's amazing toasted, with your favorite spread.  I adore butter and honey, or some homemade apple butter.  YUM!

English Muffin Bread (printable recipe)

2 3/4 cups warm water
1 1/2 packages or teaspoons RAPID RISE yeast
(Update: You can use regular yeast, but you will need to let is rise TWICE. Once in the bowl, til it reaches the top…and then again in the pans, til it reaches the top. With the RAPID RISE you only need to let it rise once in the pans.)
1 Tablespoons salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar or honey
5 1/2 cups flour


Mix all ingredients together, then spoon into (2) well greased loaf pans.

Let rise in pans until dough reaches the top of the pans, and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. (My oven runs a little hot so I ended up cooking mine for a total of 35 minutes. Just keep an eye on it. You’re looking for golden brown.) 

10 minutes before done, brush with melted butter. 

Makes 2 loaves. Bread will be moist at first. Allow to COOL COMPLETELY before cutting. Makes delicious toast.

It's bubbly, rose to the top and is ready for the oven!

All Sorrows are Less With Bread...

Ok, so obviously bread doesn't heal all sorrow, but MAN, it HELPS!

I've recently made the decision to make all of our bread from scratch.  Store-bought bread is SO expensive and not really that good.  I've tried a few different wheat bread recipes, but they all turned out like BRICKS!  NOT what I want to eat with my turkey and provolone.

I finally found the perfectly moist, light and airy wheat bread!  It's not totally wheat (i'm working my way to getting it mostly wheat).  You can add nuts and grains if you desire and it turns out perfectly every time!

Ingredients

• 1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk (I read you can use regular milk, I haven't tried this yet)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1/2 to 1 cup of wheat germ or other grains/nuts (optional)
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon honey in 1/2 cup warm water.
2. Combine milk, 1/4 cup water, shortening, honey, salt and 2 cups wheat flour in food processor or kitchenaid bowl. Mix in yeast mixture, and let rest 15 minutes. Add remainig 1 cup wheat flour, bread flour,wheat germ (or nuts) and process until dough forms a ball. Knead dough by processing an additional 80 seconds in food processor, kitchenaid with dough hook for 7 minutes on speed 2, or mix and knead by hand 10 minutes. Place the dough in a buttered bowl, and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise for 45 minutes, or until almost doubled. (depending on the weather, this can take up to 2+ hours)
3. Punch down, and divide dough in half. Roll out each half, and pound out the bubbles. Form into loaves, and place in buttered 9x5 inch bread pans. Butter the tops of the dough, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm area until doubled; second rise should take about 30-60 minutes.
4. Place a small pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until tops are dark golden brown. Butter crusts while warm (this keeps the crust soft). Slice when cool.
6. Note: Check the bread at about 20 minutes, I usually have to cover with foil, so it doesn't get too dark.

For the day, your home smells heavenly.  Who doesn't like the smell of freshly baked bread!  Enjoy!