Been Busy Baking Bread...

I enjoy baking and this winter I have been on a busy baker. I have made many different types of bread but never artisan bread...when I saw the pictures and recipe on High Heels and Pearls' blog...I just had to give it a whirl. The recipe makes four 1-pound loaves and you have up to 14 days to make all four once you make the initial recipe. I chose to make all four at one time and give three to friends. I also made a flaxseed bread (see recipe below), and almond brittle and meatloaf while the bread was rising.

Flaxseed Bread

1 Tablespoon active dry yeast

1 3/4 cup warm water

3 Tablespoons honey or 1/8 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon oil (safflower or olive)

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

3 cups fresh ground whole wheat flour

1 cup flaxseed meal (2/3 cup whole seed flax...note you must grind the flaxseed if you don't purchase it already ground)

1) Grease bread pan

2) Dissolve yeast in water and set aside until bubbly (~5 minutes)

3) Mix in honey or sugar, oil and salt

4) Mix in half of the flour and flaxseed

5) Add the remaining flour and flaxseed a half cup at a time

6) Knead for 10 minutes

7) Place in bread pan and cover, place in warm area and let rise until double

8) Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes

9) Allow to cool 10 minnutes in pan and then remove and place on wire rack