Ghost Town

Went to visit my mother today. It was a nice chat and she was doing well. With everyone online making bread my mom gave me a recipe for our families Swedish Bread. 

It was eerie out on the road and in the store picking up the ingredients.  It was like a ghost town, there was no one anywhere, no cars on the roads or parking lots. Never been so happy for self-checkout.  It was kind of nice actually and creepy.

Got home and made bread with my daughter. That was an experience and I really enjoyed how it came out.  I’ll put the recipe in here so I don’t lose it.

Swedish Bread

[You pick up a piece of scrap paper and find a recipe for bread]

1 package active dry yeast
2 tablespoon shortening
¼ cup warm water
1½ cups hot water
½ cup brown sugar
2½ cups sifted whole wheat flour
¾ cup light molasses
3¼ to 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

Soften yeast in warm water. In big bowl, combine sugar, molasses, salt and shortening. Add hot water and stir until sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm.

Stir in whole wheat flour, beat well. Add softened yeast, mix well. Stir in enough all-purpose flour to make soft dough. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
Knead on well-floured surface until smooth and satiny (10 minutes). Place dough in lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover; let rise in warm place until double (1½ to 2 hours). Punch down. Turn out on lightly floured surface; divide in 2 portions. Shape each into smooth ball.
Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

Pat dough into 2 round loaves; place on greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place until double (1 to 1½ hours. Bake in moderate oven (375°) about 30 minutes. Place foil over top last 10 minutes, if necessary.
For soft crust, brush with melted butter or margarine. Cool on rack or put into foil or plastic bag.
Makes 2 loaves good with butter, toasted or as sandwich bread.