Honey-Oatmeal Wheat Bread

I love the recipe for the bread that I made last night.  It baked up really well.

Makes two nice size loaves

slices up well and was not too dense but looks like just the right moisture - I sometimes have trouble with wheat breads being too dry.

Honey-Oatmeal Wheat Bread

2 cups warm water (100 to 110 degrees)
3 tablespoons molasses (I used Blackstrap)
1 envelope active dry yearst
3 cups flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup regular oats
1 cup granola
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons olive oil

combine the first 3 ingredients and let sit for 5 minutes.  Beat the yeast mixture with 1 cup of flour, honey, and oil at medium speed until well blended.  Gradually add the whole wheat flour, oats and granola until a soft dough forms.  Turn the dough out onto the floured board and knead in the rest of the flour.  If too dry put a couple tablespoons of water onto the dough and keep kneading it until it is smooth and elastic.  Cover the dough and put in a warm area to rise until double for about an hour or two.  Punch the dough down and divide in half and form into loaves.  Place in two greased bread pans and let rise again for about 45 minutes to an hour or until doubled in bulk.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. (I found this recipe in a Southern Living Magazine last year)

I finished my sweater yesterday.  As I had mentioned I don’t like the way it turned out.  The sleeves are way too long, and my arms are thin so the sleeves are way too bulky.  It kind of bunches up under the arms so is not comfortable.  I didn’t like how the neckline turned out so I crocheted a neck on it but it was too wide and gaped open so I braided some yarns and strung it through it so it could be pulled tighter   I doubt I will wear it but it was a good learning experiment!  It is just too big and bulky in the arms to be comfortable and like I say the sleeves are too long and not tight enough to push the sleeves up and keep them up!

I cut my face out of this photo because I had a really weird look on my face you can see how long the sleeves are - it doesn't look bad for a first attempt in my opinion - and I would wear it and maybe I will from time to time, but the sleeves just aren't comfortable. I made it out of cheap yarn because it was an experiment so I didn't waste any money. I think I will stick with scarfs, wrist warmers(fingerless gloves) and maybe try a cotton sleeveless sweater for summer instead! The sleeves really screwed it up for me.

On the weather topic - I took this photo first thing this morning - a big 6 degrees outside and next to the door it was only 62 in the house - the heat pump is working steady and I have the oven on the automatic cleaning cycle as it needed to be cleaned and it helps heat the house for awhile today too. I find winter is the best time to clean the oven! It is up to 9 degrees now but will stay very cold today and again tonight and tomorrow - I think it should get back into the 30's on Sunday.