Iceland: Karin's Whole Wheat Bread:

This is just about the greatest dough to handle! It is so smooth and pliable and wonderful to knead that you will not want to let go of it, which is just as well; for the more you knead it the better the bread.

Yield: 2 large loaves. Can be frozen.

1/2 medium size potato
2 cups water

1 envelope yeast
1/2 tsp. sugar

1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 Tbs. salt (or less)
1/2 stick butter
3 Tbs. lard
4 cups whole-wheat flour
2 to 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Peel and cut the potato into small pieces. Put in a pot with the 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes until the potato is soft. Let cool to lukewarm, then put the potato and potato water in the blender and blend until liquefied.

While the potato liquid is lukewarm add the yeast with the 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, cover and let stand until you have a yeast sponge.

Melt the butter with the lard and stir the molasses and brown sugar and salt into the melted fat.

When this has cooled, stir the melted mixture into the yeast sponge, add the whole-wheat flour, and about 2 cups of the all-purpose flour. Mix until you have a dough that holds together. When it is not sticky any more, place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead it well, adding more of the all-purpose flour if it is sticky. Knead the dough until very shiny and smooth.

Put the dough in a large, buttered bowl, cover with a towel, and let stand in a warm place to rise until doubled in bulk, which will take about 1 hour.

Place the dough on the floured work surface, punch down a few times and knead again for a few minutes.

Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and place in 2 large loaf pans 9 inches by 5 inches, cover and let stand to rise until doubled in size. This should take about 45 to 60 minutes.

Bake in preheated oven 375 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes or until the tops are browned and the breads sound hollow when tapped with your finger.

Brush the breads with water after you remove them from the oven.

These breads have a beautiful appetizing brown hue and a wonderful texture.

Cool wrapped in a towel.