# The Delicious Aroma of Freshly Baked Wheat Bread
There’s something nostalgic and comforting about the aroma of freshly baked wheat bread wafting through the house. The fragrance alone can trigger memories and evoke a sense of warmth and contentment.
# Introducing Country Wheat Bread
If you’ve been searching for the perfect recipe for country-style wheat bread, your search ends here. We bring you the recipe of the month: Country Wheat Bread, courtesy of Amy Patricia Meade.
## The Perfect Pairing
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about the perfect accompaniment to this bread. A warm, chunky bowl of soup sets the scene for a hearty meal. Add a dollop of butter to a slice of freshly baked wheat bread, and you’ve got the perfect pairing.
## The Recipe
Now, without further ado, here’s the recipe for Country Wheat Bread.
### Ingredients
– 2 cups whole wheat flour
– 1 cup all-purpose flour
– 1/4 cup honey
– 1/4 cup vegetable oil
– 1 1/4 cups warm water
– 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
– 1 tsp salt
### Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the honey, vegetable oil, and warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the wet mixture and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes by hand or with a mixer.
4. Cover the dough and let it rise for an hour.
5. Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf. Place the loaf in a greased loaf pan.
6. Let the dough rise again for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F.
8. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
### Important Tips
– Ensure that the water used to mix the wet ingredients is warm, not hot. Hot water will kill the yeast, and the bread won’t rise.
– Be patient when letting the bread rise. This is a crucial step in achieving a soft and fluffy texture.
– If you’re short on time, you can opt to skip the second rise. However, the bread won’t be as airy as it would be with the second rise.
## The Benefits of Homemade Bread
Choosing to bake your bread offers more than just the satisfaction of creating a delicious staple. Homemade bread is free from preservatives and additives, making it a healthier alternative to store-bought bread. Additionally, baking bread has therapeutic benefits, from kneading dough to the comforting aroma it produces.
## Conclusion
If you’re looking to master the art of bread baking, Country Wheat Bread is the perfect recipe to start with. It’s simple, delicious, and offers the perfect pairing for a hearty meal. Best of all, it invokes a sense of nostalgia that few things can match.