Whole Wheat Walnut Loaf
January 1, 2015
I’m so into bread these days, and nut breads have always been my weakness. It’s been a tradition that Rick and I carry nut bread up the mountain (we love to climb mountains) and tear a hunk for each other, while we ponder life in the quite majesty of the mountains. This recipe is very timely because we are a few days away from leaving on a trip to The Bay of Fundy National Park, just me, Captain Canada, our sweet dog, and this Whole Wheat Walnut Loaf. I love this recipe. It’s beautifully earthy and honest in its flavours. The slightly bitter nuts with the whole wheat , and the ferment of the yeast make a bread that is satisfying alone or as a sandwich or dress it up with cheese. The dough was relentlessly sticky and it took longer in the oven to reach 200 degrees evenly throughout the loaf than the book suggested , but I think it came out great and I’d make it again without hesitation.
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Ingredients
Instructions
DOUGH STARTER (SPONGE)
- This was super easy. Just put it all in a bowl and mix it up.
- The consistency of the starter is quite loose and runny.
- I had so much to do that I left the starter on the counter for half the day. Then I started making the dough.
- I toasted the walnuts and left them whole
- The bread dough is mixed and the walnuts are turned in. Letting it rise now.
- I came up very quickly it seems. The size of the holes are enormous!
- The dough is relaxed, but still very sticky and gummy.
- Dimpling the dough to reduce the air holes
SHAPING THE DOUGH
- This was somewhat difficult if only for the sticky nature of dough. I used only as much flour as was absolutely necessary. I really held myself back because what I really wanted to do was shake the dough in flour to make the sticky go away (Shake and Bake).
- Making the loaf
- Continuing
- We finally have the envelope
- Folding it again, as per the drawing in the Bread Bible.
- The shaping is complete
- Dropping the loaf into the pan for the final rise
- The loaf is baked
- It sliced beautifully. I really like this bread.
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