Recipe: Buttermilk Wheat Bread

Buttermilk Wheat Bread
From: Paddy.Montreal

2 tbsp. active dry yeast
1/2 cup very warm water
1/4 cup honey
2 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cracked wheat
2 1/4 cups white bread flour

Proof the yeast in the warm water with a pinch of sugar. Heat the buttermilk to lukewarm, and put into large bowl with the proofed yeast, oil, honey, and salt. Stir in the baking soda, whole wheat flour and cracked wheat. Beat until smooth, then start adding the white flour, until you have a soft dough. Turn out onto floured surface and knead, adding flour to keep from sticking, about 10 minutes. Put into greased bowl and let rise till double, about 1 1/2 hours. I punch it down and give it another rise in the bowl. Shape it into loaves, put into greased pans - 2 8-1/2 x 4 in. pans - let rise until double, bake in 375 deg. oven about 40 min.

You can leave the crust plain, or egg wash it and sprinkle with sesame or other seeds.