White Bread Plus

Photo: flickr user Ned Raggett

Ingredients

1/2 cup lukewarm water

1 tablespoon sugar

Preparation

Combine and set aside for 30 minutes. Beat in: 1/2 c. sugar 1 stick plus 2 tsp. butter, melted (cooled to room temperature) 1 c. (1 minute) oatmeal 1 c. whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp. salt (optional) 2 c. lukewarm water (minus 2 tbsp.) 6 c. white flour

Stir most of the white flour gradually into the other ingredients alternately with the water until a fairly thick batter is formed. It takes less muscle if you have a bread mixer, but can be done by hand. Pour dough onto a floured board and knead in the remaining flour, about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a well greased bowl and let it stand until double in size. Punch down and cut the dough in half. Knead each half about five minutes and place in greased loaf pans. Permit this to rise until double in bulk. Place them into a cold oven. Turn the heat to 400 degrees and bake 15 minutes. Then turn down t