Good Bread Recipe

[jill72]

Took the bread out of the oven a few minutes ago and put it in a draft-free place to cool (not sure if that helps with the sinking, but sounds logical lol). The buns have NOT deflated yet and it's been about 15 minutes since I took them out. They are light and airy and delicious looking (about the size of a regular commercial hamburger bun).

My kneaded dough weighed 735 grams and I put half of that into the loaf. The buns I weighed out at about 91g/ea. and I got 4 large buns. Weighed after baking, they are 84g.

Thanks for all your help, Angie and thanks Jen and others who've contributed to this great bread thread! I'm going to have a cheeseburger with all the 'fixins' for lunch!!!

[BikerAng]

Yay! The buns rise extremely high don't they!? Some of the buns I made deflate just a tad (using oat and buckwheat) but I've had great luck with the ww pastry flour buns not deflating (using the ground chia seeds). I'm so glad to hear your buns and loaf turned out well! The loaf may deflate a tad. This is my favorite LC bread, so versatile. Huge thanks to Jennifer for coming up with such a great recipe!

[jill72]

Have to report that the loaf sank like a stone lol. I did manage to get a slice decent enough to put in the toaster and the rest I'll use for breadcrumbs.

Angie, I used oat flour since I didn't have any buckwheat flour. I wanted to ask you, though, if you replaced the wheat bran (noticed it wasn't in your last recipe) because you didn't like the taste? I have some and am thinking about using it next time I make this bread.

I'm amazed there was none of the 'bitter' taste you can sometimes get with 100% whole wheat breads. I did incorporate a tip I'd read - it said, "1 T. orange juice will tame any residual whole-wheat bitterness the sensitive palate might detect". So I added it lol.

I'm also thinking of trying this with white whole wheat flour. King Arthur's website says it has the same nutritional profile as red whole wheat and is 100% whole grain, so I picked up a pound to play around with.

Oh, and my buns are still holding their shape - no sinking. I didn't preheat my oven, I put a bowl of very hot tap water on the oven floor and then set my loaf and buns on the middle rack to rise. That may account for the fast rise (it was very warm and humid in the oven). Further experimenting will be fun!

[SCOTTSDALEJULIE]

I made the buns, and I just got done toasting one and puttin sliced turkey, mayo, and lettuce on it. My husband said it tasted like Schlotsky's bread. These are fantastic toasted. Making some more soon. Thanks Jen. Julie

[BikerAng]

Jill - I replaced the wheat bran with the ground chia seeds. I do like wheat bran, but adding in the chia and wheat bran would have been just too much fiber for me!

My loaf sunk also (I think I've only ever made 2 loafs with this - I really prefer the buns) but just in the middle. The ends were like normal bread. LOL. What I like to do is also make hot dog buns (I use the mini wilton loaf pans) and those don't sink. They are great for big sandwiches (DH loves them). I use the buns for any sandwich (when I have one).

I was big into bread making back in the day. I loved King Arthur's white whole wheat flour, made a great bread. I think both whole wheat and white whole wheat flours are higher in carbs than the whole wheat pastry flour or oat and buckwheat flours. I try to get as many buns as I can from this dough to keep the carbs somewhat low.

[jill72]

Thanks for the info, Angie. I'm mixing up another batch lol. Hubs won't eat white bread at all so this is mainly for him. I love Kevin's bread and bun recipe for me (lower carbs - I worked too hard to get the weight off), plus these are a little chewier than I prefer. Taste and flavor are great though.

Julie - I used to LOVE Schlotzky's - their reuben sandwich was soooooo good. Wish they'd use low card buns LOL.

[Jennifer Eloff]

Jill, I'm so glad your hubby is appreciative. He might also like Miboje's hamburger bun recipe which is less chewy (less vital wheat gluten) and the flavor is very good. She even made cinnamon buns out of her variation of the good bread recipe. Her photos look amazing! She was trying to get away from the taste of the vital wheat gluten. I believe she was successful. They are slightly more carby, but maybe some people will prefer them and feel it is worth the few extra carbs.

Here is Miboje's Variation:

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/lo...ff-s-buns.html

[jill72]

Thanks, Jen. I do so much appreciate you sharing this wonderful recipe with us! Miboje's version is on my list to try. I think I may be making some novice-baker mistakes and right now I'm trying to experiment to see which ones are the culprits...over-kneading, over-rising, oven too warm, oven not warm enough, etc. LOL. I wasn't much of a bread baker during my HC days, and this LC baking is a major challenge! So happy to have experts such as yourself and the other generous posters to guide us through the process.

[Jennifer Eloff]

Jill, that is why I like using a bread machine - It takes the guess work out of things. In actual fact, with the bread machine, this bread goes through 2 rises. Using a Kitchenaid or a Sunbeam Mixmaster means one has to be a bit more of an "expert" when it comes to judging when the dough is ready. Angie, who is actually an expert baker, very kindly gave us detailed instructions as well as illustrated them with fabulous, informative photos. She eloquently explained the "window pane test" and really that is what tells one when the dough is ready. If the dough is not quite ready or over-kneaded, results are unpredictable to say the least. So don't feel bad, you're doing exceptionally well with your experimenting. It really is sometimes a challenge to do low-carb baking.

When I make the bread machine bread using all whole wheat pastry flour options (18 slices at 4.9 g carbs each), it usually pops the top in the vertical pan type bread machine. Such fun!! This is really the easiest option to try and then go from there.

[Jennifer Eloff]

ZomZom, hope you see this. Reading through this thread I noticed you once asked me a question about how many rises my bread goes through in the machine - two. However, that said, I use the rapid cycle as a very long cycle probably will not work well. Also the pizza cycle that I use for the hamburgers is one knead and one rise and then form into buns or loaves, however, some people say the texture is improved if the dough is simply kneaded and then taken out of the machine and allowed to go through one rise. Hope that helps. Sorry for missing your question earlier.

[zomzom]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Eloff

ZomZom, hope you see this. Reading through this thread I noticed you once asked me a question about how many rises my bread goes through in the machine - two. However, that said, I use the rapid cycle as a very long cycle probably will not work well. Also the pizza cycle that I use for the hamburgers is one knead and one rise and then form into buns or loaves, however, some people say the texture is improved if the dough is simply kneaded and then taken out of the machine and allowed to go through one rise. Hope that helps. Sorry for missing your question earlier.

Jennifer - many thanks for getting back to me regarding my question - truly appreciated. I will experiment again with my bread machine. I have the option of a "home made" cycle on it and will probably make bread/rolls using the knead, one rise, and bake. I shall then try knead, two rises, bake. After that, I will just use the machine to knead, and then I'll shape, put some dough into a loaf pan, and the rest will go into making rolls.

It may be a little while before I post the results ... I don't go through bread very quickly but will get hubby on the case and get him to eat my experiments!

[Mallory]

Im not an expert but I have been making this recipe a few times and it should really only rise once. Two rises is for traditional bread and it kills our low carb dough. If you are using a bread machine, you want it to knead, rise and then bake..not rise twice. Hope that helps..

[Jennifer Eloff]

Mallory, I'm sure it would "kill" the bread dough with two rises if I was using the mixer such as a Kitchenaid or Sunbeam mixmaster, however, the way the original recipe is written using a bread machine - this bread dough somehow makes it through two rises without a problem. Don't ask me how. I'm not sure about the bread rapid cycle for the bread machine bread - it is possible that it goes through only one rise or the full cycle just shorter, however, my pizza cycle includes kneading and one rise for the buns - take the dough out, shape, let rise again and bake.

That said, people have discovered that even if they use the pizza cycle, by removing the dough before the rise, they get a better bread texture.

[mac24312]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Eloff

Mallory, I'm sure it would "kill" the bread dough with two rises if I was using the mixer such as a Kitchenaid or Sunbeam mixmaster, however, the way the original recipe is written using a bread machine - this bread dough somehow makes it through two rises without a problem. Don't ask me how. I'm not sure about the bread rapid cycle for the bread machine bread - it is possible that it goes through only one rise or the full cycle just shorter, however, my pizza cycle includes kneading and one rise for the buns - take the dough out, shape, let rise again and bake.

That said, people have discovered that even if they use the pizza cycle, by removing the dough before the rise, they get a better bread texture.

Mine is a Sunbeam bread machine from Walmart...what I do is mix and kneed 1 time in my bread machine..take it out...shape it...then let it rise to your instructions because even with the fast cycle or pizza cycle on mine its 2 rises so it wont work...

[Jennifer Eloff]

I need to help with some possible confusing messages here:

My bread rapid cycle does have 2 kneads and 2 rises (just a much shorter time) and with this particular bread - it does work - and it works with all of my low-carb breads - however, a regular, long cycle will definitely make the bread flop! However, I don't think it will work using a mixmaster or Kitchenaid - I could be wrong. Keep to one rise if using those appliances.

I also meant to say I use the pizza cycle (one knead and one rise) for my hamburger buns - take the dough out and pinch off equal pieces and let rise again and then bake. But as I mentioned before, that extra rise is being skipped by some people and they are only using the kneading of the dough in the machine. Someone said it produces a better bread texture.

That said, I tried to do Miboje's (Bobbi) recipe as a machine bread and it flopped, even on the bread rapid cycle - so it is an example of a low-carb dough that can handle only one rise and is better for making hamburger buns, etc.. Low-Carb Bread is very temperamental -totally unpredictable at times!

[mac24312]

Hi Jennifer...Mine are LONG cycles knead and rises..that is why I just do mix, knead then take out shape and bake.. Sorry for not making that clearer... I did try to make yours 1 time with mine and it flopped...

[Jennifer Eloff]

Ah yes, I understand Christina. Thanks for explaining that. So, you're saying some machines with a bread rapid cycle still use fairly long cycles - too long for low-carb bread. That's too bad. Mine is a Hitachi (my preferred bread machine - vertical pan) and the other I have is a Breadman (vertical pan) and the other is a Toastmaster (horizontal pan). I find the vertical pans make bigger breads. I like it when they literally pop the top!

[mac24312]

Hi!

This sunbeam I got a Walmart and I have two other before never did like this one did...just my machine..I don't mind at all..I just take it out..shape and rise and bake..

[missymagoo12]

bump it up please. sue

[jerikay]

I just made some of this bread in my breadmaker. I love it, my DH thought it was too sour. I'm thinking of adding a little honey/molasses/agave nectar next time.
Could I use veg. oil or canola oil instead of olive oil? I used my last bit and wanted to make another loaf right away.

[Jennifer Eloff]

Hi Jeri - so nice to see you!

Of course, you can use whatever oil you have on hand. Wonder what the sour taste is that your hubby is picking up on? Did you use the basic bread or one of the wonderful variations on this thread? Good for you thinking of how you can mask that. He might be tasting the VWG.

[jerikay]

Thanks Jennifer- I used the recipe with 3/4 cup vwg. I'm going to make some tonight! My 1st loaf popped the top! I'm thinking of leaving out the ground flax seed and doubling the wheat bran.

[jerikay]

My goodness-this bread is delicious! I went to Whole Foods this afternoon and got me some whole wheat pastry flour and vital wheat gluten in their bulk bins. I did not put flax seed this time-just extra wheat bran and 1 tsp. agave nectar. DH loves it.

[Jennifer Eloff]

Thanks, Jeri, for the feedback and the interesting tweaks. I rediscovered your blog and noticed the mention. Thanks so much!!

[cjmobxnc]

Originally Posted by mac24312

I am betting it the VWG I am using too now I think about it because I get it from Walmart and its the 70 percent (Hodgen Mills)..I get my Rolled Oat to make my Oat Flour at Walmart too. I will post that question for you for Kevin and see what he has got to say and I will e-mail you and let you know..I did the 2 loaf version. I will leave the extra 3 TBS of water out of my Loaves when I make them again next week..see..I told you I was getting to LOVE this..lol

I use my High Power Food Processor to grind mine in..

That fine..I just e-mailed you again..lol...Sorry about that...Just holler when you get time Jennifer...

HUGS!
Christina

Christina, can I ask in what part of Wal-Mart do you find the vital wheat germ, in the pharmacy part where they have the protein powders and other stuff like that, or in the food section with the flours and such?

Cindi

[jerikay]

I made another batch of this delicious bread. I made 6 rolls with this batch also. So yummy. I know they are not beautiful, but they are tasty and both DH and I are very pleased with the taste.

[mac24312]

Originally Posted by cjmobxnc

Christina, can I ask in what part of Wal-Mart do you find the vital wheat germ, in the pharmacy part where they have the protein powders and other stuff like that, or in the food section with the flours and such?

Cindi

Hi cindi

Do you mean Vital Wheat Gluten?

As of last week my local walmarts do not have it now..if you can find Vital Wheat Gluten it is with the flour on the top row of most of them.

I get mine at my local Amish store now and a local produce store carries it with their speciality flours. I also get wheat Germ there also.

[cjmobxnc]

Originally Posted by mac24312

Hi cindi

Do you mean Vital Wheat Gluten?

As of last week my local walmarts do not have it now..if you can find Vital Wheat Gluten it is with the flour on the top row of most of them.

I get mine at my local Amish store now and a local produce store carries it with their speciality flours. I also get wheat Germ there also.

I'm sorry your local Wal-Mart doesn't have it, I did a search on Walmart.com and it has Vital Wheat Gluten flour made by Bob's Red Mill. Is that the same thing?

[mac24312]

I think so because I have used that in stuff for VWG and it works fine..

[123Nkechi]

bump