Homemade Bread

I love the process of making homemade bread. It seems as though it takes a long time to make bread, but in reality it really doesn't. I am even able to get the children involved in this activity. They like to add the wheat to the grinder and watch it come out as flour. Haylea and Isaiah actually argue over who gets to do this. They are still learning to take turns. As we grind the wheat, get the yeast ready. I like to watch the yeast become active. As it rises I know that I have done it successfully. After the yeast rises and we add it to the wheat flour we start mixing it and walk away and do something fun for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes the little ones get to add the white flour, and we mix it some more. I do enjoy my KitcenAid doing all the hard work for me. When I see that it is just right, I cover it with a towel and let it double in size. After it is doubled I turn the mixer on for a minute to punch it down. Then my favorite part comes. I take it out of the bowl, and slam it on the counter a few times. Don't ask me what this does, a friend told me it helps the bread turn out. Then I divide it into thirds and put it in the pans. I cover them and let them raise. At this time I turn the oven on so it is ready when the bread is done rising. This also helps the bread rise. When it has raised, I put it in the oven for 30 minutes and enjoy the smell of fresh bread baking. When it is done, I take it out and let it cool for a few minutes. Then I slice it and the family eats it. We can eat a loaf within 10 minutes. The kids love honey on it. I also like it with homemade jam on it.

I am not the greatest bread maker in the world, but I am glad that this is one thing that I have learned to do. With a few tricks that friends have taught me I am able to make something that is healthy for my family, and they actually enjoy it. There is nothing like eating a hot slice of bread right out of the oven.