Oatmeal Bread

I have come up with a recipe for oatmeal bread that my family loves. It is sturdy enough to cut thin and still use for sandwiches.

3 cups water
3 cups oats
1 Tbsp sea salt
2/3 C molasses
5 Tbsp flax
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup warm water
6 1/2 c white flour

In a large saucepan, heat the water, oats and salt until it bubbles. Add molasses, flax and wheat germ. Let cool til lukewarm.

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine yeast mixture, oats mixture and 2 cups flour. Stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl. place dough in bowl and turn once to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in warm place for 1 hour.

Deflate the dough, divide into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 loaf pans. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until loaf tops are golden brown and the bottom of a loaf sound hollow when tapped.