Oatmeal Bread

Of all the different kinds of bread I make, this is Kemal’s favorite. I love it too, but I’m not sure if this is my favorite or my rosemary bread. This oatmeal bread is a dense bread that’s great for sandwiches, and it has a lovely flavor and nice texture.

I’ve been making this bread for about 15 years now…I think. I wrote the recipe out on an index card so many years ago, but I can’t for the life of me remember anything about where the recipe came from. I would like to give appropriate credit, but unfortunately, I can’t. I will, however, share this wonderful recipe with you, and I hope you will enjoy the bread as much as Kemal and I do. :)

Oatmeal bread

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 pkg. yeast
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 5-6 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)

Instructions:

1. Scald milk. When done, remove it from the heat and stir in butter, brown sugar, and salt. Refrigerate until lukewarm.
2. Combine yeast, sugar, and water until the yeast rises up and gets foamy.
3. After the milk mixture cools, stir in the yeast mixture.
4. Add 2 to 2 1/2 cups of oats and 1 cup of flour. That will give you a very soft dough. Mix well.
5. Add the remaining flour a little at a time, mixing well.
6. Knead the dough on a floured surface, and then place in a greased bowl.
7. Spread some olive oil all over the dough, and then cover it with a plastic bag. Put one or two towels around the bowl, and then let the dough rise 2-3 hours until doubled in bulk.
8. Grease your pans and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
9. Divide the dough in half and punch out the air. Then shape into two rounds or two loaves.
10. Put the loaves or rounds in the greased pans, cover with a towel and let it rise in warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
11. Sprinkle some oats on top of the loaves and then mist the loaves with a little water.
12. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes until the bread is golden brown. It’s done when a toothpick comes out clean.
13. After the bread comes out of the oven, wrap it in clean towel for about 30 minutes and just let it sit. Then you can uncover it, slice it, and enjoy it with lots of butter.