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Wheat to Bread

July 9, 2009

It doesn’t take much to entertain me but when I can go from this:

Rinsed Wheat

Rinsed Wheat

to this:

Fresh Whole Wheat Flour

Fresh Whole Wheat Flour

and then to this in just a bit over an hour,

Fresh Whole Wheat Bread

Fresh Whole Wheat Bread

I’m amazed!  Well, it did take a bit of help from these guys:

Honey, Oil, Yeast, Gluten, Dough Enhancer, Salt and Water

Honey, Oil, Yeast, Gluten, Dough Enhancer, Salt and Water

The most amazing thing is . . I took a picture before slicing off a hunk of that bread.  You know how it is . . I have to make sure it’s fit to feed my family! :)

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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

1 CJ July 9, 2009 at 5:45 am

Judy do you buy farm wheat (not intended for human consumption) that you rinse your berries? Gosh… suddenly I’m feeling gross and unclean… LOL I never rinse my berries prior to grinding them. Ew… that’s like using unwashed veggies isn’t it?

I don’t rinse my rice either. Funny. I do rinse all my beans. Oh lord this is a disturbing thought so early in the morning.

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2 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:40 pm

No, I really try to feed my family only items that are safe for human consumption! :)

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3 CJ July 10, 2009 at 4:54 am

/grin

I’m pretty sure animal wheat is fine for human consumption… I guarantee if I were hungry I’d buy it without a qualm… but I’d be washing it! Hehe

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4 KnittySue July 9, 2009 at 5:48 am

Ah Ha another taste tester….have to be sure it’s yummy for the family. I’m amazed at how effortlessly you whip up so many yummy things.
Thanks for sharing….I so enjoy your blog.

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5 Julianne July 9, 2009 at 6:10 am

Judy I am wondering if the flour you grind has more fiber than the whole wheat flour that can be bought? I know it would taste better because it is fresh ground.

Husbands doctor told us that whole wheat store bought bread was not much better than white bread, only slightly better. I would be happy to bake our bread but I am not ready to start grinding my own wheat. Yet.

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6 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:41 pm

There is lots of info online about the nutritional advantages of fresh ground whole wheat vs. storebought packaged whole wheat. I can’t remember all the details but I think within 24 hours, the flour begins to lose some of the nutrients. I grind the wheat just when I’m getting ready to use it.

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7 Gretchen July 9, 2009 at 7:00 am

If you want something really good, boil your wheat berries in water for an hour or so (until tender), drain and rinse, add a little salt, and eat it for breakfst with non-fat half and half and sugar. This is a Christmas breakfast tradition in our family. My older daughter makes it frequently for her family…you will love it

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8 Judy July 9, 2009 at 7:42 am

I’m new to wheat grinding and now we are very spoiled! I blame Judy, not really blame–I should say I thank her! I’m also using my smoker more than ever and just yesterday I bought a new canner kettle so I can have the good fruits and veggies again–it’s been a few years since I’ve done that. Looks like we may be trying to get healthier!

Thanks Judy for being a such good influence in my life. :-)

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9 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:42 pm

Blame me . . I blame others . . pass it on! :) At least I’m convincing you to do good things and not bad things! Right?

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10 Judy July 9, 2009 at 7:43 am

Oh, I forgot to say, this recipe of Judy’s is the very best wheat bread I’ve ever tasted!

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11 Jocelyn July 9, 2009 at 7:59 am

Why do you rinse your wheat? Never heard to do that before.

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12 Mama Koch July 9, 2009 at 8:09 am

Looks really good!

Glad you have enough wheat to last for awhile. The guys might’ve saved a coffee can full this year and that’s it.

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13 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm

Good thing I wasn’t needing some, huh?

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14 Sue H July 9, 2009 at 9:03 am

Tasting the bread reminds me of when I was a child. We never knew the chicken mom fried up had a heart or a gizzard. She “tasted” them to make sure the chicken was good! Some things never change — we women just want to make sure the food we prepare is the best for our families!

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15 Kathy E. July 9, 2009 at 9:54 am

Judy, I’ve looked all over your blog for your whole wheat bread recipe and can’t seem to locate it. Could you please let me know where it is posted?
Thanks! Kat

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16 Deb July 9, 2009 at 10:13 am

I am amazed that you do that, AN you can do it in an hour! That woudl be an all day process for me! but then, i think my quilting is the same….

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17 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm

Only if you want it to be! It’s a very quick process and I believe you’d have a hard time making it last much longer than an hour or two.

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18 Jen July 9, 2009 at 10:58 am

Do you do an egg white wash across the top of the risen loaf? I took wheat directly from a friend’s bin and used it for bread. I found a cracked wheat berry bread online that was pretty yummy.

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19 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:44 pm

Do not. I put butter on top after it’s baked though.

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20 gardenpat July 9, 2009 at 11:21 am

Did you know you can make your own dough enhancer? Just by adding white vinegar and gluten. It’s a lot more economical and the results are awesome!

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21 Judy L. July 9, 2009 at 7:45 pm

I do know you can make your own but several of the ingredients, I can’t get here so if I’m going to order, I just order the dough enhancer already made.

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22 gardenpat July 10, 2009 at 8:44 am

Over the years, I have also seen the dough enhancer recipes that call for lecithin and other things I don’t have around the house or are expensive to buy.

But here’s this one that I found this spring that (IMHO) is easy and readily available (and cheap):
Add 1/3 Cup potato flakes, 1 Tablspoon gluten and 1 Tablespoon white vinegar to your bread recipe.

That’s it! The instant potato flakes will give your bread a softer texture, the gluten will strengthen the air bubbles that help with the rising and the vinegar does somethng else (sorry, I don’t remember what- but something helpful!)

For me, at least, these are not items that are expensive or require me to go to the store. And the bread comes out better than ever!

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23 Marlene July 9, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Okay now we all need to know where the recipe is and exactly what dough enhancer is and how to make it! blessings, marlene

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24 gardenpat July 10, 2009 at 8:46 am

I just posted in the comment above the 3 ingredient recipe that I’ve started using! It really seems to make a noticeable difference!

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25 Amy July 9, 2009 at 8:18 pm

BEAUTIFUL BREAD!!!! I am still working on perfecting making homemade bread. Definitely not where yours is yet. :)

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26 ruth anne shorter July 9, 2009 at 9:16 pm

This is to the Judy that has the whole wheat bread recipe. Is it in a certain book? Thanks!

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