Improving my mental health

I read an article about mental health that said people who "work" with their hands have markedly  better mental health than those who don't.  

This can take many forms: playing piano, gardening, sewing, decorating, cleaning, 

baking bread, woodworking, painting, fixing a car, dusting (okay, maybe not dusting).

So to improve my mental health and that of my sweet sister-in-law Loraine last Saturday, we made whole wheat bread.

She had never worked with yeast before.

And she did a wonderful job--totally "got" the kneading technique and the bread was seriously the best whole wheat bread I have made in years.  

(Okay, truth be told, I don't make bread all that often.)

Here she is.

And here is the delicious result.

Best Whole Wheat Bread

Description: 

A slightly sweet, healthy half-whole-wheat bread

Yield: 

1 loaf

Ingredients: 

1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)


1 tablespoon milk


2 tablespoons oil


2 tablespoons honey


2 tablespoons brown sugar


1 teaspoon salt


1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
 (I did use King Arthur flour this time)

2 teaspoons instant active dry yeast – I always use quick rise (bread machine) yeast.

Instructions: 

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large mixing bowl; stir.

2. Add flours and yeast, and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10-15 minutes.  Shape into a loaf and place in greased loaf pan.

Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled; about an hour 

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. If loaf starts browning too soon, lightly place tin foil on top until bread is done.

5. Remove bread from oven and allow to rest in pan for a few minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cover with a cloth.