Yesterday I made my first homemade bread, using my grandmother’s recipe.  (We call her Nonie)  This isn’t my first time working with yeast, though.  I’ve made pizza dough, dinner rolls, and every year I make a Swedish tea ring for Christmas.  This bread was very tasty, though a little denser than I wanted.  I’m still going to need to practice so I can figure out how to make it just the right texture.  When Nonie makes this bread it is soft and light, and her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (often made with homemade fig jam) are always a treat.

Nonie’s Overnight Oatmeal Bread

1. Dissolve:

• 1 pkg (2 1/4 t) yeast
• 1/2 c warm water

2. Combine in separate bowl & let sit 10 minutes:

• 2 c boiling water
• 1 c quick-cook oatmeal
• 6 T butter

3. Add to oatmeal mixture:

• 1/2 c sugar -or- 1/3 c honey (I used honey)
• 1 1/2 t salt

4. Add yeast mixture

5. Mix in gradually until dough forms:

• 4-5 c flour (I used part white, part wheat)

6. Let rise in greased bowl about 2 hours

7. Punch down and knead until smooth & elastic (I think I overdid the kneading)

8. Form loaves and let rise in 2 pans about an hour (should about double in size…make sure you have it in a warm place)

9. Preheat oven to 450º

10. Bake 10 min at 450º

11. Bake about 30-35 min at 350º

Note: the “Overnight” part is totally optional, but if you want to leave the pans in the fridge overnight, then let them rise in the morning, you can.  Nonie said she didn’t see any advantage to that, so she just makes & bakes in the same afternoon.