Multigrain Loaf By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen Recipes

MULTIGRAIN LOAF (BY THE CANADIAN LIVING TEST KITCHEN)

Steps:

• Preparation:
• Starter: In large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle in yeast; let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour, stirring until mixture is consistency of thick pancake batter, about 2 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand in warm place until bubbly and puffy, and wheaty aroma develops, 8 to 12 hours.
• Stir in 3-1/4 cups (800 mL) of the flour, warm water, honey and salt to make soft sticky dough.
• Turn out onto generously floured surface; knead, dusting with as much of the remaining flour as necessary to prevent sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Form into ball; place in greased bowl, turning to grease all over. Cover dough with plastic wrap; let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
• Grease 9- x 5-inch (2 L) loaf pan; set aside.
• Punch down dough. Shape into ball; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Press into 11- x 8-inch (28 x 20 cm) rectangle. Starting at short end, roll up into cylinder; pinch along bottom and ends to seal. Fit, seam side down, into prepared pan. Cover with clean tea towel and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
• Topping: Dust top of loaf with flour. Slash top lengthwise down centre, starting and ending about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from edges of pan. Bake in centre of 375°F (190°C) oven until instant-read thermometer registers 215°F (102°C) and loaf is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer to rack; let cool.
• Additional Information
• Variations
• Unbleached White Loaf:
• Replace multigrain bread flour with unbleached white bread flour. Replace buckwheat honey with mild liquid honey.
• Whole Wheat Loaf:
• Replace multigrain bread flour with whole wheat bread flour.

MULTIGRAIN BREAD

Steps:

• In bowl, dissolve 1 tsp of the sugar in 1/2 cup of the warm water; sprinkle in yeast. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the whole wheat flour; set in warm place until bubbly, about 10 minutes.
• In large bowl, combine molasses, butter, salt and remaining sugar and warm water. Stir in sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, yeast mixture and 1/2 of the rolled oats. With wooden spoon, stir in remaining whole wheat flour and enough of the all-purpose flour to make stiff dough.
• Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, kneading in as much of the remaining white flour as necessary - about 10 minutes.
• Place in a large greased bowl, turning to grease all over. Cover with plastic wrap, let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk - about 2 hours.
• Punch dough down, turn out onto lightly floured surface. With rolling pin, flatten into 11" x 8" rectangle; firmly roll up into log and pinch seam to seal. Place, seam side down, in a greased 9" x 5" loaf pan. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk - about 1 1/2 hours.
• With tip of sharp knife, make 1/2" deep slash lengthwise down centre of loaf. Brush top with water, sprinkle with remaining oats. Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) convection oven until loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom - about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack.
• For a conventional oven - bake on centre rack at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes.

BRAIDED MULTIGRAIN LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix whole wheat flour, oats, rye flour, yeast, salt and 1 cup all-purpose flour. In a small saucepan, heat milk, honey, water and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Add 1 cup all-purpose flour; beat 2 minutes longer. Stir in rice and enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough. , Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Cover and let rest 5 minutes. Roll each portion into an 18-in. rope. Place ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid. Shape into a ring. Pinch ends to seal; tuck under., Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°., For topping, in a small bowl, whisk egg and water; brush over dough. Sprinkle with sunflower kernels. Bake until golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.