Hearty Homemade Bread

A Wholesome Versatile Bread Recipe

© Melody Rhodes

Jan 15, 2008
Homemade Bread, Emmi P
Enjoy hearty homemade bread fresh from the oven: whole wheat, white, and every variety in between.

Aah . . . the goodness of homemade bread! A good, reliable bread-making recipe is invaluable, resulting in wonderful, moist bread.

This prized recipe for homemade bread was passed down to me from my grandmother, Dorothy, and has come to be called Grandma Dot’s Bread.

You can use this versatile bread recipe to make different kinds of homemade bread and bread buns.

Grandma Dot's Hearty Homemade Bread Recipe

Step 1

Into a large measuring cup:

  • 2 tbsp. yeast dissolved in
  • 1 cup of warm water with
  • 2 tsp. of white sugar

(Let rise until foamy, about 10 minutes.)

Step II

Into a large bowl:

  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 1/2 cup of fat
  • 2 tsp. salt

Then add:

  • 3 cups of hot water to dissolve the fat
  • 3 cups of cold water to achieve the right temperature before you add the yeast. Water should be warm but not hot enough to kill the yeast.
  • Stir in yeast mixture

Step III

Mixing Your Bread Dough:

  1. Start adding in the flour (15-20 cups), using either a soup bowl or a flour scoop.
  2. Stir your wet mixture with a wooden spoon, so that ingredients are well blended.
  3. Keep adding flour and stirring until your dough becomes stiff.
  4. Sprinkle more flour on the top of the dough ball and start kneading the bread dough with your hands.
  5. Keep kneading and adding flour each time dough starts to feel sticky.
  6. When dough becomes firm, start folding bread dough inward with the heel of your hand, folding and heeling it, working in a circle. Dough will develop an elastic feel.

Once you have a large ball, smooth on oil and cover with a tea towel. Set your batch of homemade bread in a warm place to rise, until doubled in size.

Punch down and let rise again. Test by poking two fingers into the dough. If a depression remains, your bread dough is ready.

Step IV

Shaping Your Bread Loaves:

  1. Punch down and cut bread dough into 7-8 portions.
  2. Place dough portions on a floured counter and shape into oblongs, tucking dough under at the sides.
  3. Place in greased pans, cover, and set to rise.
  4. Preheat oven and bake bread at 325 degrees for approximately one hour.

Homemade Bread Variations:

Substitute all or part of the white flour with whole wheat flour for brown bread, or use graham, or rye flour when making homemade bread.

Additional Ingredients for Hearty Homemade Bread:

  • toasted sunflower seeds
  • flax seeds
  • chopped nuts
  • poppy seeds
  • sesame seeds
  • raisins
  • cinnamon
  • oatmeal
  • wheat germ
  • bran
  • ground brown rice
  • freshly ground wheat
  • ground Kamut
  • For a rich whole wheat bread, include sunflower seeds and flax seeds.

Homemade Bread Toppers:

  1. Place bread dough in pans. Make a lengthwise slit in the top of the bread and press in sesame seeds and poppy seeds for crunchy goodness and eye-appeal.
  2. Dust with sifted white flour
  3. Top with cornmeal

Decorative Touches for Homemade Bread:

Braided Bread

  1. Roll bread dough into 3 pan-length strips. Press together on one end and braid dough for a decorative oblong braided loaf.
  2. Shape braided dough in a circle and place in pan. Dust with poppy seeds.

Homemade Bread Buns

  • You can also make buns from this bread recipe. A good combination is 4 loaves and 1-2 pans of buns.

Bun-Making Method:

Cut palm-sized balls and place on counter. Bring together thumb and middle finger, and start rolling in a counter-clockwise motion. Perfectly formed balls will form. Place balls in greased pans. Cook bread buns for a shorter period, 15-20 minutes at 325, until golden brown.

The next time you have a hankering for hearty homemade bread, make up a batch of Grandma Dot's bread.


The copyright of the article Hearty Homemade Bread in Breads & Muffins is owned by Melody Rhodes. Permission to republish Hearty Homemade Bread in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


 Homemade Bread, Emmi P
Bread Dough, M. Rhodes, author photo
Crunchy Homemade Bread, M. Rhodes, author photo
Round Seed Bread, M. Rhodes, author photo
 


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Comments
Sep 23, 2008 1:43 PM
Guest :
I have baking bread most of my life and I'm OLD. I wouldn't try this recipe for the mere fact of the photos you've posted. It's quite obvious that this dough comes out as a very dense bread. The whole wheat dough that I make makes a beautifully tender and delicious bread. Try using some Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), soy lecithin, and gluten flour (if you're making a recipe with a lot of whole wheat in it). I grind my wheat fresh with every new batch of bread. Anyway, just thought I'd leave you some tips from an old grandpa. Cheers.
Sep 23, 2008 1:53 PM
Melody Rhodes :
Hello.
Thanks so much for your insights. I, too, like to grind wheat when I make bread. Ground Kamut also adds a wonderful flavor.

This recipe makes wonderful bread. I received it from my grandmother and have never used anything else because the results are always so satisfying.

If someone wanted a denser bread, they could just add a greater ratio of whole wheat.

I like your tip about the vitamin C and will try it.

Bread making is addictive and once you get used to moist homemade bread, you find that some of the commercially prepared bread tastes like sawdust.
Oct 8, 2008 10:03 AM
Guest :
Hello Melody!
I've been baking bread along with countless other old fashioned dishes for a few decades, and I have a B.S. in Home Economics to go with it.

I just wanted to let you know that I can't wait to try this great recipe and I am honored that you would share such a precious part of your heritage with others! You obviously went to a great deal of trouble to put together this post, along with the very appealing photographs! Its so easy for others to be armchair quarterbacks, but you're the one who was gracious enough to go to all of this trouble for countless people whom you will never meet and that deserves to be commended.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to do this and I WILL be trying it soon! I've been looking for a good versatile bread recipe which can be used for various buns, rolls, and other goodies. By your photographs, I am already certain that I will love this.

Here are some "tips" from me: Keep on doing what you're doing. Your heart is clearly in it, your knowledge is clearly there, your skill is apparent, and so many people are going to have their lives enhanced because of your selfless efforts! Sounds a bit dramatic, but I mean it!
Christy Jordan
www.southernplate.com
Oct 8, 2008 10:24 AM
Melody Rhodes :
Hi Christie,
Wow! What nice compliments. Thanks so much. I always value reader feedback. You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

You'll love this recipe. If I had to choose just one recipe for all my bread-making needs, this would be it. I've been making Grandma Dot's bread for years and I'm always asked for the recipe. My brother-in-law liked it so much that he asked if I would come over and show him how to make it. I used to always send over a loaf because he raved about it.

I like that you get about 8 loaves with this. If you don't need that much bread, the recipe can easily be cut in half.
Jan 18, 2009 2:47 PM
Guest :
Melody, I would Like to try you bread recipe, but this looks like it makes a lot of bread, I only want to make a couple of loaves.How can I cut down this recipe for 2 loaves. I've never made bread and would like to try.I do buy homemade bread and have friends that make it .I like the bread with all the additional ingredients in it.Any help would be appreciated. sisteregoss@yahoo.com
Jan 18, 2009 3:15 PM
Melody Rhodes :
If just a couple of loaves are desired, simply cut this recipe in half. I often do this for two loaves and some buns.
6 Comments