You have to love it

[Lisa]

It is 4:57am and snowing outside yet again . I have a "spare 3 minutes" before I venture down into the barn. I have tried and tested and if I am to be at work on time (7am) I must have my cover alls on over my work clothes at 4:45 and I must be in the barn by 5.I try to give thanks daily for my job in town. But I sure do hope onee day I can aford to stay home and work only on my farm. Tonight when I return I hope to make bread. Does anyone have a good and easy recipe?

[C Anne Lozier]

I make bread all the time. One of my favorite recipes: Sift 3.5 cups of flour (I use several including whole grain wheat, buckwheat, oat, brown rice, soy, rye, and bread flour) in a large bowl. Cut in 2 tbsp vegetable shortening. In a jar blend: 2.25 cups very warm water, 2 pkgs active dry yeast, 1 tbsp salt, 2 tbsp sugar. Add to the flour in bowl and stir 2-3 min to blend well. Add a tbsp of honey (optional). Add 3 more cups of the combine flours and mix well. Turn out onto a smooth surface and knead the dough 10 minutes. Put in large bowl, cover with cloth and place in a warmish place to rise. (about an hour). Punch down the risen dough, place it on a table and divide in half. Roll out each in a rectangle shape, spread additives* (optional) on each, then roll it up, pinch edges and ends to seal, and place in greased baking pans. Allow to rise a second time. Heat oven to 390 degrees and place pans in center. Bake 30 min, (checking after 20, covering with baking paper if top is getting too brown.)
*optional fillings: Blend chopped raisens, wheat germ, blackstrap molasses, cinnamon. Spread before rolling up dough. Or blend chopped cranberries in small amount maple syrup and dried apple. Yummy.