ICELANDIC THREE-GRAIN BROWN BREAD

This soda bread recipe comes from an Icelandic farmhouse. It's dark, delicious, and full of wholesome grains. It's also excellent toasted.

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dark rye flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/2 cups buttermilk*

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9- by 5- by 3-inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar and butter. Mix the rolled oats, rye flour, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda together in another bowl, then add to the creamed mixture along with the buttermilk. Mix until well blended. Divide the mixture between the two pans and smooth the tops.

Bake 1 hour or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn out of pans and cool on racks.

*Mix 2 1/2 cups milk and 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or vinegar to substitute for the buttermilk if you have none.

Makes 2 loaves
From : Beatrice Ojakangas
Source: Great Food Without Fuss: Simple Recipes from the Best Cooks by Frances McCullough and Barbara Witt