Bran and Wheat Germ Bread

This is one of our favorite breads – the potato flakes make it moist and it keeps longer. I slice these when they are very cool; package in bread bags and freeze. We remove them a couple of slices at a time. Let the dough rise the first time right in the mixer bowl, saves washing! Takes about 2 hours.

Bran and Wheat Germ Bread

2 2/3 cups water

2 pounds bread flour -- about 6 1/2-7 cups (can use 1 cup whole wheat flour substitute)
3 1/2 tablespoons Butter -- (or salad oil)
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 Ounces potato flakes -- (5/8 cup)
1 Ounce dry skim milk -- (1/3 cup)
4 Teaspoons Instant or rapid rise dry yeast*
2 Tablespoons wheat bran -- optional
2 Tablespoons wheat germ -- optional

• Heat water to 120-125 ° in microwave. Place flour ( minus 1 cup), butter, sugar, salt, potato flakes, dry milk and yeast in mixer bowl.
• Using paddle attachment, turn on mixer to slow and add water. Turn to speed 2 and mix 2 minutes. Change to dough hook, add remaining flour and knead 6 minutes.
• Let rest in warm place in covered mixer bowl 10 minutes.
• Shape into 2 loaves, about 1# 13 oz. each, let rise in sprayed 8 1/2 x 4 1/2" pans 30 minutes, while preheating oven to 400 °. Bake 28 minutes.

 In 2010- $ 1.26 per loaf with bran and germ added          Makes 2 loaves

Per Serving: 128 Calories; 2g Fat (12.8% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 24g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 4mg Cholesterol; 287mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

*If you use regular dry yeast, the rising times will be a little longer.