Farm Wives Bread

This recipe has been in our family for a long time, but I just recently found out about it. Last summer I went over to my cousin's house to learn how to make this bread, and I am so thankful I did because it has come in handy and it is tasty. She told me that it's called the Farm Wives Bread because it uses ingredients that farm wives had left over back in the day. They had milk from their morning milking leftover, potato water from their stew that they would have at night. These are the two main ingredients in this bread.

It's also a very easy recipe to follow and makes a lot. It is also a really pretty dough. Ugh, I just love this recipe. So instead of just blabbing on and on about it, you should just try it.

This is the dough after the first rise. I made this bowl covering for bread rising. I seriously LOVE it. I made it to where I can add plastic wrap on the inside of it if the dough likes to rise a little extra. Later I'll do a tutorial on how to make them.

This is the dough on the second rise...such a pretty dough.

This is the bread after it has baked and the butter added to the top.

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 c. Potato Water

- 1 1/2 c. Scalded Milk

- 1/2 Tbs. Active Dry Yeast

- 1 1/2 tsp. Salt

- 7 c. flour

- 3 Tbs. Oil

- 1 1/2 Tbs. Sugar

- 1 Egg

Directions:

1. Combine potato water, milk (needs to be between 105-115 degrees Fahrenheit) then add the yeast to the mixture and mix. If you get the milk and potato water too hot, it will kill the yeast...trust me, I've experienced this and it doesn't make very fluffy bread.

2. Mix dry ingredients in a stand mixer - I like to use a Bosch because there is a lot of dough. It makes three loaves.

3. Add liquid ingredients and combine until it comes off of the sides of the bowl. If the dough is really sticky, add a little more flour. This is a wetter dough so a little should stick to your finger a little.

4. Knead for 10 minutes.

5. Put dough in a greased bowl and let rise for 1 hour.

6. After the first rise, punch it down and separate it into three greased loaf pans.

7. Let rise for and additional 30 minutes in the loaf pans.

8. While the dough is rising for a second time, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit

9. Bake the bread for 25 minutes.

10. After the 25 minutes, take the bread out and put butter on top of the warm bread.

It is so yummy if you let the bread set for 10 minutes out of the oven then eat it with honey butter. Below is the honey butter recipe...it's literally the easiest thing ever.

Honey Butter:

Ingredients:

- 1 Tbs. Softened Butter

- 1/4 c. Whipped Honey

Directions:

1. Soften butter - DO NOT melt it

2. Mix softened butter and honey together.

I am so thankful that I am capable to make bread especially in times like we are facing now. I never would have thought that you wouldn't be able to find bread in a grocery store! CRAZY times!