oatmeal bread

Today, I'm sharing with you a family recipe.  My mom taught me, her father taught her, and I guarantee you that I'll be teaching the next generation.  It's simply the best bread I have ever had in my life. 

What makes this bread so amazing?  It's the flavor!  It's slightly sweet, incredibly moist, and just perfect.  We eat it as toast, on sandwiches, with soup, or just by itself.  It doesn't last long. :-)

Oatmeal Bread

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3 T. butter
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 T. sugar
• 2 pkg. active yeast
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 5 cups flour

In a large bowl, combine the oats, boiling water, butter, and brown sugar; mix well and let cool until lukewarm.  In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, yeast, salt, and warm water.  Let sit for about 5 minutes.  Add yeast mixture to oatmeal mixture and then stir in flour.  Mix in mixer (with dough hook) for 6 minutes, or knead until dough no longer sticks to your fingers (adding flour if necessary).  Let rise for 1 hours.  Shape into loaves and let rise for another hour.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown.