A Farmer's Wife

 

Is there anything as enticing as the smell of fresh bread baking in an oven? Memories may be flooding your mind of your grandmother’s kitchen or your favorite bakery shop. Ahhh! A good deep breath gets us craving a thick, warm slice!

There’s something I’ve found more satisfying than even fresh bread! The recipe is so easy that even a young child can take part. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger…” John 6:35. Never hunger again?! You know the feeling; that hunger that we try to satisfy with money, entertainment, drink, dope, and love. These things don’t really satisfy that hunger in us. That’s why we’re constantly searching for the next big thrill, pay raise, or that certain someone who will accept and love us unconditionally. Jesus is the ONLY fulfillment to that deep craving, and He promises we’ll “NEVER hunger again!"

Matthew 4:4 says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” We cannot truly live a full and satisfying life collecting the newest toy, traveling to new places, finding the “perfect” mate, or whatever you are searching for. The wise King Solomon, who had it ALL, calls it all vain and empty pleasure. We’re created by God to NEED Him. What He gives, will make your life truly worth living!

I grind the wheat I use to bake bread with. When I dig deep into a bucket of wheat berries, I’m reminded of the Scripture that gives us a picture of Jesus’ sacrifice. “…except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit.” Remember, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life…” He was sent by God the Father to die on the cross for us, that we might have “much fruit” (eternal life with Him in Heaven).

There’s only one BIG problem. We’re dirty and cannot come before a holy God alone. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. We’re compelled to look to the cross where He died for our sins. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

 As a teenager I was compellingly drawn to the “Bread of life” where my hunger for satisfaction, love, and acceptance was forever fulfilled. I saw my sin and my need of cleansing. I accepted God’s free gift and my search was over! That deep sense of emptiness left. Now Jesus Christ is my “Bread of life”, and I am clean, forgiven, and His child that will live with Him in heaven forever!

My freshly baked bread compels my family to get out the cutting board, bread knife, and of course, the butter to satisfy the craving we’ve felt as the bread baked! Come to the “Bread of life”, Jesus Christ, and you’ll “never hunger again”!

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

 

The Farmer's Wife

Whole Wheat Bread

5 Cups Very Warm Water

2/3 Cup Melted Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup Black Strap or Sorghum Molasses/Honey

2 Tablespoons Yeast

2 Teaspoons Salt

Approximately 11 Cups White Wheat Flour. (You may need less, or you may need more.)

To a heavy duty mixer (like a larger Kitchen Aid or Bosch) fitted with a dough hook, add warm water, melted oil, molasses and salt. Add a few cups of flour along with the yeast. 

When you've added about 7 cups I like to turn the mixer off and let it sit for a few minutes. This allows the water to be absorbed into the flour. It also safeguards you from adding too much flour and ending up with crumbly bread. You are not in a hurry.

Continue to add flour slowly, letting it knead between additions until the bread begins to pull away from the side of the mixing bowl. 

Stop the mixer and touch your dough. You'll get the hang of knowing you have enough flour when the dough is tacky but not sticky. Slowly add more flour until the dough doesn't stick to your finger. (Be careful not to add too much flour.)

Knead 10 minutes or more until you can stretch a small piece and make a window out of it. Window Pane Test Video 

In my 7 qt. Kitchen Aide it takes up to 15 minutes to develop the gluten to this point. 

A Bosh has developed the gluten by 8-10 minutes. 

Kneading by Hand: Simply put a bit of flour onto the counter and knead until the gluten is developed. This video will be a help to making my bread totally by hand. 

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the middle.

Remove the dough from the mixer onto a slightly oiled counter. Using a bench knife divide your dough into 4 to 5 pieces. If you have a kitchen scale I divide mine into 1.35 lb. pieces. Shape it slightly and place into oiled bread pans.(I use spray coconut oil.) 

Cover your bread pans with a light tea towel or plastic wrap, and let it  rise in a warm place till the dough is about 1 inch above the sides of the pan. I like to place mine on top of my stove as the oven will be preheating. 

Place into a preheated 375 degree oven to bake for 25-30 minutes. The dough must be 190 degrees if you have a thermometer or you'll easily see it releases from the pan with a golden bottom when fully baked. You can also give it the tap test. It should sound hollow when it's baked.

I hold my pan by the corner and tap the sides to release and then place it on a cooling rack until fully cool...if you can resist the temptation! 

All of this may seem complicated, but like any new skill it is worth working towards. My family ate "Monster Bread" for quite a while until I understood how dough should be handled in MY kitchen. Each of our kitchens, water, flour, etc. is different and you will get to know your process in short order.

If all you have is a small mixer like a Kitchen Aid, I've included a one loaf recipe below, but look online for No-knead recipes that require no mixer at all. I use them too even though I could make more complicated breads.

Single Loaf Recipe 

1 1/4 Cups Warm Water

2 1/2 Tablespoon +1 Teaspoon Oil

1 Tablespoon Molasses/Honey

1 Teaspoon Salt

Approximately 5 Cups Flours