[Happygrl]

Soft Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Makes 3 loaves

3 cups warm water ( 110-115 degrees)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons yeast
3 eggs
3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup Crisco ( I use butter instead)
2 tablespoons salt
11 -12 cups whole wheat flour
4 tablespoons wheat gluten (I’ve successfully left it out)

Mix water with yeast and sugar and let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.

Put flour, salt, and gluten in bowl. Pour in yeast mixture and stir until combined. Add in honey, eggs, and crisco until combined, scraping sides. Add more wheat flour and knead until smooth. (I use my Kitchen Aid for mixing and kneading, usually.)

Let set in warm place for about an hour until double in size. Punch down and let rise about for 45-60 minutes. (This step can be skipped but we like the bread better when I do it.) Divide into 3 loaves or rolls. Let rise again in warm place until doubled (about one hour).

Bake at 375 for 35-45 minutes.

After baking, let cool. Double-wrap in plastic wrap and place into a freezer ziptop bag or wrap with aluminum foil. ALTERNATELY, you can freeze after you form the loaf but before the last rise.

To make cinnamon rolls, roll out 1/3 of the dough after risings. Spread with butter, sprinkle on cinnamon & sugar. Roll tightly and slice. Freeze (I freeze individually) To cook, I let them sit out for maybe 30 minutes before baking. If I'm on the ball, I pull them out the night prior and let them thaw in the fridge.

---------- Post added at 11:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

Black Pepper & Bacon Drop Biscuits

6 strips bacon, diced
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4-1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1 cup buttermilk, cold
8 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled slightly (about 5 minutes) plus 2 tablespoons melted for brushing biscuits (brushed butter is optional)

Heat oven to 450. Fry bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel and cool.

Combine flour, black pepper, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, bacon and salt. In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk and 8 tablespoons of melted butter, stirring until butter forms small clumps. Pour into flour mixture and stir until just combined.

Using a greased 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop batter and drop onto greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown, about 13-15 minutes. Brush with melted butter. Remove to cooling rack.

NOTES:
To reheat, cook at 300 for approximately five minutes or until warm.

I use the real bacon bits from Costco in place of the bacon. I don’t have a measurement, though. Maybe 1/4-1/3 cup?

These freeze really well! I reheat them at 300 for about 20 minutes.