Dakota Bread...tried & true recipe

Happy Monday friends...in our corner of the Midwest the sky is a robin's egg blue and the sun is brilliant. This chilly April morning holds the promise of a beautiful day on the farm...just right for tiding up flowerbeds, cleaning out the garden, and maybe even a bonfire at nightfall.

Today I wanted to add a bread recipe that's a family favorite...shared by a dear friend years ago, we think it's wonderful. 

(I didn't have any sunflower kernels to top the loaf with, but it was still terrific!)

A combination of white, whole wheat, and rye flowers with added wheat germ,  honey, and oats it's hearty but still soft; just right for toasting or sandwiches. 


Dakota Bread

1 pkg. (2-1/4 t.) yeast
1/2 c. warm water, 110-115 degrees F.
1/2 c. cottage cheese
1/4 c. honey
1 egg
2 T. oil
1 t. salt
2-1/4 c. bread flour, divided
1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. rye flour
1/4 c. oats, uncooked
2  T. cornmeal
1 egg white, beaten
2 T. sunflower kernels

Combine yeast and water in a bowl; set aside 5 minutes or until foamy. In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer; combine cottage cheese, honey, egg, oil, and salt. Beat at medium speed until blended; add yeast mixture and 2 cups of bread flour; blend again. Attach the dough hook and add whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, rye flour, and oats. Add enough of the remaining bread flour to make a soft dough that doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl.

Knead dough with a heavy-duty mixer for 6 minutes, or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl, turn to coat all sides, cover with a tea towel or oiled plastic wrap, then let rise one hour or until double in size. 

Punch dough down, shape into a round loaf, and place in a pie pan coated with non-stick vegetable spray and sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let dough rise again until double. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sunflower kernels.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Serves 6 to 8.