HONEY OATMEAL BREAD

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of oats, 1/2 cup honey, salt, and butter. Pour boiling water over, stir, and let stand for one hour.
• 2. After your mixture has been sitting for about 50 min., dissolve yeast in a small bowl with 1/2 cup warm water. I add about a tsp. of honey so the yeast has something to "eat", ha. Let stand until creamy (about 10 min.).
• 3. Add the yeast to the oat mixture, and then add about 2 cups of flour. Stir until it's well mixed, and then start adding flour a half cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the bowl.
• 4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead (adding small amounts of flour when needed), until smooth and elastic (about 10-20 min.).
• 5. Oil a large bowl (or spray with cooking spray), and place dough in the bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a damp towel or loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour). Tip: You'll know it's ready if you press two fingers in and the indents stay.
• 6. Punch down the dough, and turn out on to lightly floured surface. Divide in two, and shape each half into loaves. Place each loaf in a greased 9x5 in. bread pan, cover, and let rise until doubled (about 30 min.).
• 7. Bake at 350 for about about 30 minutes, until top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
• 8. When done, remove from pans and brush with slightly warmed honey and sprinkle with oats.
• 9. Note: You can also brush the loaves BEFORE baking with milk or an egg wash and sprinkle with oats, so the top isn't sticky from the honey. Also, you can substitute 1 cup of wheat flour for 1 cup of bread flour if you like (I do).