Sourdough Bread #2

QTY MEASUREMENT PREPARATION INGREDIENT

Keep starter in refrigerator except after feeding. Feed starter
every 3 to 5 days. To feed, remove your glass container from the
refrigerator, mix the above “TO FEED STARTER” ingredients, and add to
your starter and stir.

Leave the starter out of the refrigerator un-covered for 8 to 12
hours. Return the container to the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days
before feeding again. Initially I suggest that you feed the starter
at least two times before you make your first batch of bread. (Just
to build up your supply and allow it to work well.) To make bread,
take the starter out of the refrigerator and stir well and measure
out one cup of the starter. Return the container to the refrigerator
(cover the container lightly – we lay one of those small styrofoam
(sp) bowls on top of the container). Mix the dry “TO MAKE BREAD”
ingredients, then add the cup of starter, oil and warm water. Mix
with a wooden spoon. The dough will become stiff, but continue till
you have a nice ball of dough and all the dry flour has been absorbed
into the ball of dough. Knead the ball in the pan 5 or 6 times.
Then place the dough in another bowl (that has been sprayed with
Pam). Turn the dough over so that both sides have received some Pam
on it. Cover the bowl with a dish towel and let the dough double.
Have patience, cause it make take several hours, or overnight, plus,
before the dough doubles. (In the summer time we put ours out in the
garage after we make it up about 9 PM, and the next morning it has
really blossomed (more than doubled), but in south Texas it gets some
hot from May to October. The key is patience! Don’t sweat it, it due
course it will double, or more. After doubling, turn the risen dough
out on a floured surface and knead (is it knead or kneed – who cares
~ you know what I mean anyway) it sufficiently to remove most of the
air bubbles. Divide the dough and place in bread pans that have been
sprayed with PAM (or whatever) or use the new type that are non-stick.

Let the dough rise again until above the edge of the bread pan an
inch or two. Again, have patience with the rising – it will make it!
A suggestion would be to always place the dough in the warmest place
you can find, but don’t put it in the oven with the light turned on
to create some warmth – cause it will develop an undesirable crust on
top. When risen sufficiently, heat your oven to 350 degrees, put the
bread pans in and set the timer for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on
your oven). I would look at it after about 20 minutes, and if the
bottom of the loaf is lightly browned, take ’em out. We then take the
loafs out of the pans and set them on wire racks on your counter and
lightly brush the top of each loaf. This makes 3 nice loaves. The
dough will also make about 24 nice biscuits.

Divide the dough into balls twice the size of a golf ball, and
flatten out with the palm of your hand, then fold over and lay in a
pan with about 2 inch sides. Let them rise sufficiently and bake as
above. Usually the biscuits only take 15 to 17 minutes.

TO MAKE OTHER TYPES OF BREADS, ADJUST BREAD RECIPE AS FOLLOWS:

Wheat Bread: 4 Cups Bromated Flour + 2 Cups Wheat Flour

Oatmeal Bread: 6 Cups Bromated Flour + 1 Cup Oatmeal Flour

Raisin-Cinnamon-Nut Bread: Add 1 Tbsp Cinnamon, 1/2 Cup Chopped Nuts
(Walnuts or Pecans) and 1 Cup of Raisins.

NOTE REGARDING SUGAR IN BREAD MIX:

When making our bread dough, (not when feeding the starter) we use one
packet of “Sweet One”, low calorie sugar substitute – instead of the
1/4 cup of granulated sugar. “Sweet One” comes in a box of 50
packets. If you cannot find it call 1-800-544-8610 (Took this off of
the box). We like it cause it seems to be the only sugar substitute
that you can use for cooking.

To soften the bread crust, brush the top of each loaf with margarine.