Helping Hands Bread...

Here is the oft requested "Helping Hands Bread" recipe! Don't be afraid to make it...it's not that hard! We can be available for tech support if you stumble...and walk you through.

I double this recipe every time I make it. I like to use small loaf pans I purchased in a working play set from IKEA. They are a good size for preschoolers, they fit well into toaster, and they bake quicker than big loaves!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water (not too hot)

1 package dry yeast

1/2 cup honey (One can also use brown sugar...honey is preferred)

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

3 cups wheat flour (Often this is not just wheat...but multigrain)

3 cups unbleached white flour

1 stick softened butter

Dash of healthy oil (optional…I use flax)

Ground Flax seed (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

1. Fill large mixing bowl with warm water. Stir in honey, and yeast. Wait for it to get foamy. I place it in the sink with warm water underneath.

2. Stir in rolled oats and half of the flour. Let sit for about 45 minutes to rise. Should double in size.

3. Stir in the remaining flour, salt, softened butter, and optional ingredients. Knead roughly. Do this for about 7 minutes until dough is no longer wet but smooth. This may take adding several more cups of flour depending on how much flax oil was put in…humidity…etc.

4. Punch down and shape into rolls or loaves and allow it to double in size again before baking.

or...

At this point…if you have the time…the other option is to let it rise again. I put it in one big ball back into the big mixing bowl in the sink with warm water. Let it double in size...knead it and shape into loaves then bake. This extra step can make it more fluffy.

5. Bake at 375 until brown and crusty on top.

or

Bake in a sun oven. Times vary based on available sun!

6. If the bread gets too brown on top and they are not cooked all the way through…place tin foil on top.

7. Allow for them to cool on drying racks then store...or eat!!

I recommend stocking up on Trader Joe's pumpkin butter this October. Enough to last you the year through. A steaming piece of Helping Hands bread...topped with butter and Pumkin butter is divine. One parent upon trying it exclaimed "This is the best bread experience I have had in my entire life"!!!