Multi-Grain Bread

I got this recipe from a food storage cookbook called "Boarding the Ark Today". I tweaked it quite a bit, and it turned out great. Here's my version:

1 cup oatmeal (I used quick oats)
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup molassas, honey, or honey powder (I like using honey powder)
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Combine in a large bowl and let cool for about 5 min.

3 cups whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. dry yeast

Add to the bowl, mix well, and let rest for 15 minutes

1 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. powdered eggs
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup gluten flour
1/2 cup ground flax
1/2 cup barley flour
about 1 cup white flour
1/2 cup sunflower nuts, optional

Mix until batter forms a ball and cleans the sides of the bowl. Knead for 3-5 minutes. Dough will be a little bit sticky but still manageable. Shape into 2 loaves, place in loaf pans, and let rise until double (about 30 minutes)

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes

The gluten flour improves the texture of the bread, allowing you to use less white flour. The original recipe just called for 2 1/3 cups white flour, but I wanted to add whole grains so I used the flax, gluten flour, and barley flour instead. I used my fantastic hand grinder (Thanks, Mom Kitchen) to grind pearl barley for the barley flour. It turned out great. I'm so proud.

Book of the week: Pope Joan by Donna Woodfolk Cross
I had a hard time with this book in the beginning because of all the bad things that men do to women. Just treating them like property and using religion as a weapon to hurt them. I also get ticked off that in books, when a woman does something important it really boils down to her doing something that a man should have been doing, at least according to the culture of the time. It's not that I don't believe women should have equal opportunities. I do. But raising and caring for children is every bit as important and commendable as . . . well, as being the pope. Pope Joan is well-written, fascinating, and it gave me a lot to think about. I really liked it.