Oatmeal Bread

Have you ever been asked what your favorite childhood smell was?  I have, and I have two answers for that. 

1.  I loved the smell of the wild honeysuckles that grew in the back of our property when we lived in Georgia.  

2. The smell of freshly baked homemade bread that could stop you in your tracks as you walk in the house, coming home from school in California.

Honeysuckles and homemade bread.  For me, those are two of the best aromas ever.

Today's recipe is my latest favorite bread to make.  It looks and tastes like regular white bread, but it has the added nutrients of healthy oatmeal.

Here's what you'll need:

4 C. warm water

1 Tbsp. yeast (I like to use SAF instant yeast)

2/3 C. sugar

1/3 C. oil

1 individual packet REGULAR instant oatmeal (not the flavored kind), cooked to package directions OR 1 serving of unflavored oatmeal, cooked to package directions

12 1/2 C. flour

3/4 C. dry powdered milk

1 Tbsp. salt

Cook the one serving of unflavored oatmeal, as directed on the package and set aside.  In a Bosch or other stand mixer, combine the warm water, yeast, sugar, oil, and oatmeal.  Mix with a dough hook on Low speed just until combined (for about 10 seconds).

Then add the flour, powdered milk, and salt.

Knead on High for 10 minutes. 

Just GORGEOUS!

If you are using a Bosch mixer, you can immediately divide the dough into four loaves.

If you are NOT using a Bosch mixer, place the dough into a lightly greased bowl and cover and let rise until doubled.  Then divide into four loaves.

Cover the loaves with a towel and allow to rise for about an hour... 

or until they look about like this...

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  

Then you'll get this.

Remove from the pans and cool on a cooling rack.

Hello, beautiful! 

 So delicious!

I wonder if my kids will have the same association to freshly baked bread as I do.  I guess time will tell.