Rustic Whole Wheat Oatmeal Bread or Oatmeal Whole Wheat Bread

Some breads are meant to be part of a cold meat sandwich, some to be grilled for bruschetta, some are meant to be enjoyed with sharp aged cheese and some for a simple peanut butter sandwich. This rustic bread - so simple and easy to make and so good - is one of those breads that is meant to be served warm and slathered with butter, real butter, not margarine that supposedly tastes like butter. Fresh homemade bread slathered with butter is one of those simple pleasures in life you have to let your family experience. 

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 packet instant yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 cup rolled oats

Process

Combine warm water with yeast in a large mixing bowl and let set for 5 minutes.

Add the whole wheat and all purpose flours and salt stir together. The dough will be a sticky, rough dough.

Lightly grease another bowl, wet your hands and lift the dough out and into the second bowl.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for an hour. It will double in size.

Sprinkle the dough with flour and transfer to a generously floured work surface. 

Knead a few times adding flour as needed to make it easier to handle – a dough scraper will help – then add the oats a little at a time and knead until they are incorporated and the dough is no longer sticky.

Place on lightly greased baking sheet and sprinkle a light coating of flour over the top. Let rest for 45-60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450°F and place a metal or cast iron pan on the lowest oven rack, and have 1 cup of hot water ready.

When ready to bake, make 2 -3 slashes in the top of the dough, making a cut about ½-inch deep.

Place bread in the oven and carefully pour half a cup of hot water into the shallow pan on the rack beneath. Close oven door quickly. The steam produced will help the dough expand in volume quickly when it hits the heat in the oven. This is called ovenspring. It will also help form a better crust.

Bake the bread for 25 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown and crusty.

Remove the bread from the oven and cool on a rack.

Once cooled, but still warm, cut a few pieces for you and your loved ones and slather with butter – REAL BUTTER, damn it – and ENJOY!

Note: In case you are wondering, this cool cutting board, in the shape of the State of Pennsylvania, was a gift from my son Michael and daughter-in-law Miranda.