Baking Bread

I love to bake.  Liam loves to help me bake.  So, yesterday, I decided to bake a batch of whole wheat bread.  And of course, my little man was ready to help.

"Do you really have to take my picture?"

"Hey mom, what is this stuff and why is it growing??"

"This is HARD to stir!"

"Really?  I can use my hands?"

When baking with a 4 year old boy, one must always be prepared for unexpected dough monster attacks!

Whole Wheat Garlic Herb Buns

Whole Wheat Bread

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rasin Bread

Everything baked and ready to be eaten.

"We made this?  Really?

Here is the recipe I use.  I have no idea where it originated, it is the recipe that my mom has used for as long as I can remember!

Whole Wheat Bread

1 cup lukewarm water

2 tsp. sugar

2 tbsp. yeast

Combine above ingredients and let rise for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, heat:

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup shortening

Once shortening has melted, add:

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 1/4 cups lukewarm water

Mix well and add yeast mixture.

Gradually add:

6 cups whole wheat flour

6 cups white flour

Knead dough for 10 minutes.  Let rise until doubled in size.

Punch down dough.  Cut into 4 pieces.

Let rise 15 minutes.

Shape and place in greased pans.

Let rise until doubled in size.

Bake at 400F for 30 minutes.

Lightly glaze loaves with shortening or butter.

Yeild: 4 loaves or 4 dozen rolls.

For garlic herb bread/rolls: 

Knead one teaspoon garlic powder and one teaspoon Italian seasoning into one loaf before shaping. 

For Cinnamon Raisin Bread:

Mix 3 tablespoons brown sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

Knead cinnamon sugar and 2/3 cup raisins into one loaf before shaping.