10-grain Orange Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 35 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups whole grain breakfast cereal, 10 grain preferred
• 1 (1 tablespoon) package active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon orange rind, grated
• 6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Recipe

• 1 bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil, add the cereal, cover and let sit until the temperature reaches 110°f, about 1 hour. heat the remaining 1/2 cup water to 110°f and combine it with the yeast, in a large bowl, to soften.
• 2 add cereal mixture, salt, oil, eggs, orange rind (or oil), honey and 2 cups flour. beat vigorously for two minutes. gradually add enough remaining flour, a little at a time, to make a dough stiff enough to knead. turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding flour as necessary, until you have a smooth, elastic dough.
• 3 put dough into an oiled bowl, turning once to make sure the entire ball is coated with oil. cover with a towel, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. punch dough down and turn out onto a work surface. divide dough into halves or thirds, depending on the size of your pans -- two 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" or three 8" x 3" pans. shape dough and place in the pans, which have been well greased. cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• 4 bake loaves in a preheated 375°f oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until they test done. immediately remove bread from pans, and cool completely on a wire rack. yield: two large or three small loaves.