Whole Wheat Bread

Anyone have a good, tried-&-true recipe for 100% whole wheat bread or whole-grain bread? Mine come out ok but I'm a HUGE bread fan & none of them have ever been the can't- stop-eating-'til-it's-gone kind.

I realize it's a lot to ask, because it absitively, posolutely has to be healthy: no white flour, not too much sweetener (I usually use honey), and no shortening. A little butter would be ok, and vital wheat gluten is fine (i find it to be necessary if you don't use white flour), as are natural oils. I can generally get my hands on other whole-grain flours besides wheat as well. I've had zero luck cultivating a whole-wheat starter that doesn't taste truly awful, so yeast is expected.

Rustic, crusty types or sandwich loaves are equally desirable. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

No sunflower seeds or nuts, please, as I'm allergic.

Thank you!!

I would have said honey and some whole grains as well... looking to see what comes of this thread! Thanks Dharma!

Well Dawn, it seems that the preliminary report is that nothing will come of this thread! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

It's a tough question- I even have a couple of bread cookbooks & haven't found anything that's set-your-world-afire good! And I LIKE wheat bread! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Tonguea.gif" alt="" />

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

It is a tough one, and I certainly don't have a recipe that would meet the requirements.

kingarthurflour.com might be able to help you... just a thought.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/classic-100-whole-wheat-bread-recipe

I've never had even a " fair" result without at least a third by volume of all-purpose with whole-grain.

Let us know if you find something yummmy???

Breeze

sure wish I could help you as I've never been able to get my home made bread to come out nice and soft (like the french loaf's at the grocery store that are still warm). It has something to do with the gluten content in the flour. I once used normal plain regular cheap (all purpose I think?)flour and my bread was a lump of rock =( completely inedible and a complete waste of 4 hrs of my time. I gave up on baking my own bread as the flour I had to use to get the loafs nice was really expensive so I was not saving any $ doing it myself over the $1.50 french loaf I could buy still warm from the grocery store.

If they sell Gluten seperately you may be able to buy and mix into your whole wheat flour to make the bread more fluffy and flakey. If it's gluten you're trying to avoid then you may be out of luck...deff not an expert tho so I hope I'm wrong esp if your allergic to gluten. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

I think it would be fun to intern at a bakery for a month or so to learn any "tricks" of the trade...or chat up a bakery owner friend over a bottle of wine....sure wish I had one (a bakery owner friend) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Kiss.gif" alt="" />

This month's SAVEUR magazine was all about bread. I made the 4 hour baguette and they came out fantastic! Totally ate a loaf right away. Check it out. They may have something. And the King Arthur Flour website is good too.
Cheers
irina

I'll check out the Saveur, thanks! .... But OMG I'm an idiot- my grandparents owned a bakery for years and I have Gramps's recipe book that he hand-wrote in the 30's. The recipes are all written for massive quantities, but I can probably at least find a starting point! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Btw, I always add gluten when making wheat bread, or it just doesn't rise enough. Bread flour has more gluten than a/p flour, so even with white bread, unless you have bread flour, a little gluten is helpful.

I think I tried that King Arthur recipe ages ago but I don't really remember it... Will try it again, thanks for the reminder(s)! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Please Please post Gpa's recipe when you get the math figured down to 1 loaf - PLEASE <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hungry.gif" alt="" /> (couldn't find a down on my knees begging emoticon)

any luck?