Homemade Bread

• 1½ cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 package rapid rise yeast (or 2½ teaspoons) or 2½ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 3 Tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup hot water (125-130°F)
• 3 Tablespoons canola oil
• 1-1½ cups all-purpose flour (approximate)
• Nonstick spray

Directions

Rapid Rise Yeast

1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
2. Combine whole-wheat flour, rapid rise yeast, sugar, dry milk powder, and salt in a 1 gallon heavy-duty freezer bag with a zipper lock. Squeeze upper part of bag to force out air and close the bag. Shake and work bag with fingers to blend ingredients.
3. Add hot water and oil to the bag and reseal it. Mix by working bag with fingers.
4. Gradually add enough all-purpose flour to the bag to make a stiff dough that pulls away from the bag. You may not need all the all-purpose flour. 
5. Place dough on a floured surface. Knead 2-4 minutes until smooth and elastic.
6. Place the dough in a bowl and cover. Let it rise for 30-40 minutes or until doubled in size.
7. Spray a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray
8. Once doubled in size, gently punch the dough down and shape it to fit in the loaf pan. Cover and let rise again until double in size, about 30-40 minutes.
9. While dough is rising, preheat oven to 375°F.
10. Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Active Dry Yeast

1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
2. In a bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and set aside for about 5 minutes, or until yeast becomes foamy and bubbly.
3. Combine whole-wheat flour, dry milk powder, and salt in a 1 gallon heavy-duty freezer bag with a zipper lock. Squeeze upper part of bag to force out air and close the bag. Shake and work bag with fingers to blend ingredients.
4. Add yeast mixture and oil to the bag and reseal it. Mix by working bag with fingers.
5. Gradually add enough all-purpose flour to the bag to make a stiff dough that pulls away from the bag. You may not need all the all-purpose flour. 
6. Place dough on a floured surface. Knead 2-4 minutes until smooth and elastic.
7. Place the dough in a bowl and cover. Let it rise for 60-75 minutes or until doubled in size.
8. Spray a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray
9. Once doubled in size, gently punch the dough down and shape it to fit in the loaf pan. Cover and let rise again until double in size, about 30-40 minutes.
10. While dough is rising, preheat oven to 375°F.
11. Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 1 loaf, 20 servings