Celebrating "National Raisin Bread Month"

Usually, when you think of Raisin Bread, you think of it as a sweet treat.  But this is a Raisin Bread that you will want to use for making sandwiches!  It is a hearty bread, full of all those things that are good for you.  I'll try to include another recipe for that sweet treat type Raisin Bread in another post this month.

Since this is also "National Peanut Butter Lovers Month", after you make this loaf of bread, you can use it to celebrate this special day today, "National Sandwich Day" and make a peanut butter sandwich!  How's that for good timing?  :)

Farmer Boy Raisin & Nut Bread

(Note: You may use a bread machine to make this recipe.)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 Cups of Bread flour
• 1/2 Cup of Whole-wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 3 Tablespoons of Toasted Wheat Germ
• 4 Tablespoons of nonfat dry milk
• 1 Tablespoon of dark Brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of ground Cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 Cup of tepid water
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 3 Tablespoons of regular raisins
• 3 Tablespoons of golden raisins
• 1/3 Cup of toasted Walnuts, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon of butter
• 2 1/4 teaspoons of Active dry yeast

Directions: If you aren't using a bread machine: Place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Add the wet ingredients and mix well.  Form a ball and knead, till it is smooth and not too sticky. (add a little more flour if it is too sticky, more water if it is too dry.)

Place it back in the bowl, which you have lightly oiled.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.  Punch it down and re-cover it and let it rise again.

Lightly oil a bread loaf pan.  After the loaf has risen for the second time, place it in the pan.

Cover it and let it rise again, till it is within 1/2 to 1/4 inch from the top of the pan.

Bake in a pre-heated oven, at 350 degrees F. for about 40 to 50 minutes.  It should be a dark brown color on top and sound hollow when tapped on top.  Remove it from the oven and the pan to cool before slicing. 

I hope you'll try this recipe and then leave a comment here. Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls