Whole Wheat-Oat -Grain Bread with Nuts n Craisins...!!!

So..Finally after the long long wait I did bake..n am so happy the bread came out soo well..I am not blowing my own trumpet,but it tasted awesome,way way better than the store-bought bread,thanks to so many people who gave me all the tips needed for baking..:)

I was lil tensed about baking a bread,'cos the whole thing was so new to me n I had no clue how it would turn out.Apparently,we both are not so fond of breads.They were actually considered as a material for easy breakfast, to prepare in a jiffy.Toast it,pop in some scrambled egg or mushrooms and a on-the-fly healthy breakfast is ready.But I always used to make it a point that I buy only whole wheat n grain breads from shop.Once I saw 7 grain n bought,next time I saw 9 grain,got more happy n bought,next time it was 12 grain.Then I seriously started doubting what they really meant by grains..:D..nyhow,for my baking experiment I enthusiastically threw into small poly bags,some sunflower,flax n sesame seeds.Also on the halway of the process,I was reminded of my walnuts n craisins n threw them in too..The end result was ,as you can see , a thick ,rich,nutritious n beautiful bread.It looked n tasted so different from the store bought one.I was expecting some more air pockets ,which I couldn't find much in my bread.Nevertheless,they tasted awesome...A simple spread of Marmalade,n you can munch it for anytime.They said it right,once you taste the home made bread,you wouldn't ever feel like going back to shop n pick one from there..There is one helluva difference..:)

I have to specially thank Yasmeen for the tips n helps she gave me through mail..Thanks dear..:)

allrecipes n this site has also helped me for making out a recipe.This is a simple basic recipe,so all those who still don't have come into good terms with oven,can easily give it a try..For added nutrition I have added Oat meal also,along with the regular wheat flour..Also all you baking experts out there,please give me your suggestions(about air pockets) n tips for a more lovely bread next time..I'l be so glad to hear from you all..:)

Ingredients

3 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 cup Oat meal(If you find the flour mix not comfortably dry,add some more oat meal..I dint have to,though)

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup honey

1 cup warm water

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup Olive oil

1/3 cup of a mix of Flax ,sunflower n Sesame seeds n some for sprinkling on top

1/4 cup of crumbled Walnuts n craisins and a few for the crust

1 packet dry yeast(I used Fleichmann's Extra rise Active dry yeast)




Method

In a large bowl combine Lukewarm water(MW water for 17 secs) and yeast and keep it aside till it foams.Some 10 mins..

After that add the milk,honey,salt and olive oil into it and stir lightly .

Now add the wheat n oat flour,seeds n nuts n craisins, and stir until combined into a sticky mass.

Take it out and keep it on a clean work surface and knead it for 6-10 minutes to form a smooth dough.

Oil the large bowl ,put the dough inside n flip to cover all sides of the dough with oil.

Cover it with a paper towel,and keep it aside for an hour to double.In cold countries,keep it inside a slightly preheated oven or oven with the inside light on.

After an hour take the doubled dough and lightly knead n roll into a log shape.

Place it in a greased parchment paper inside the loaf pan.Keep it back inside the lit oven for an hour,until the dough raises an inch above the rim.

Sprinkle some more seeds n nuts n craisins on top.

Now preheat the oven to 350 F n bake the bread for 35-40 mins.

After 20 mins,if the crust is browning too much lightly tent it.

To check if the bread is set,knock it on the bottom side .It should sound hollow.

Take the bread outside and butter the outside crust to prevent it from going hard.

Cool it on a rack before attacking..:)


The warm bread was so enticing and we attacked it then itself.The crisp seeds n nuts n slightly sweet craisins added so much to the taste of bread..:)

Next morning,we had an awesome breakfast with the tasty home made bread..Made a Bell Pepper-tomato Bruschetta n had it with some scrambled egg n mushrooms, with scallions,Marmalade n Pomegranate juice..Will make it in another post..:)

..n this goes all the way to the Bread Mania hosted by Sindhura..

Update: In last post I had mentioned about pics getting blurred.After so many trials I got it that,when you directly upload pics from your system folder,it is visibly so much blurred that when you give the url link of Picassa or flickr.I have used picassa links now,which is an extra effort..n they are clearer that the system uploaded pics..You can try it yourself n see the difference..Bad blogger..!!

Also,last date for RFRU is nearing ..only 2 more days to go..So rush in your entrees pals..:)