I’m finally doing a Happy Dance over here with a nice, fresh loaf of bread! Tony took both kids to my son’s baseball game and I stood next to the island and watched the bread maker like a hawk.
About halfway through the first kneading period (about ten minutes) I check and make sure the flour is all incorporated. If it’s not picking up all the flour, I add a few drops of milk or water in the dry spots. If it’s a gooey blob, I add a little bit of flour where it looks the stickiest. After that, do not open the bread maker again until it’s done. With this recipe I didn’t have to add anything.
Oat Herb Bread Recipe
1 3/8 C warm water
1 t salt
1 T olive oil
1 T honey
1 clove crushed garlic
3 C bread flour
1 C oats
1 T brown sugar
1 T vital wheat gluten
1/2 t rosemary
1/4 t thyme
1/4 t basil
2 1/2 T active dry yeast
Make sure the kneading blade is in the bread maker pan. Run the water until it feels hot. Add first five ingredients to pan. Add all the the dry ingredients forming a mound over the water. Made a well in the center of the flour mound and put the yeast in the well. Set the bread maker: I choose ‘sweet’ which is 2 hours and 50 minutes, and Medium for Crust. Press Start.
