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Baking homemade bread is a big tradition in my family. I use a recipe that my grandma gave me. She has since passed away, and it is so nice to still see her handwritten notes on the recipe she gave me. I feel like she’s with me that way. My grandma used to let my mom and her siblings roll out their own little breads with raisins and sugar. My mom let me and my siblings do it, too. I have so many wonderful memories of doing that with my mom! Now I let my kids roll out their own little breads and add little things into them as well. I still have the bread pans that my grandma and my mom gave me. It seems like a long, tedious process from the grinding of the wheat to the actual baking, but there is great peace and happiness in creating a product that I know my family will love. And there is NOTHING like the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven. At least not to me! Here is the recipe I use that my grandma gave me. It is a very large yield: about 6-8 loaves.

8 cups warm water
3 T yeast
3/4 C honey
3/4 C olive oil
2 C quick oats
12 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 T salt
5 more cups of flour (white or wheat)

1. Put water and honey in mixing bowl
2. Sprinkle yeast on water, let soften a few minutes
3. Add oil
4. Add oatmeal and 6 cups of flour and mix briefly
5. Add 6 more cups of flour and mix well. At this point you may let the mixture rest for a few minutes. It is making a sponge.
6. Add salt (salt slows the growth of yeast so put it in after the sponge.)
7. Add about 5 more cups of flour or enough flour so that the dough doesn’t stick to the bowl as it is mixing. Dough shouldn’t be stiff.
8. Knead dough 7 minutes in the bread mixer or 10-15 minutes by hand
9. Put dough in greased bowl, turn to grease top, cover with a damp cloth and let double in size.
10. Punch dough down and let rise again about 10-20 minutes.
11. Punch down, shape into loaves, put in greased pans
12. Place damp cloth over pans and let rise again for 20 minutes or so.
13. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
14. Remove immediately from pans and cool on racks.

Spread hot slices with butter, honey or whatever you like. Don’t forget a cold glass of milk!