I Love Molasses!

As I have mentioned several times before, I read lots of food blogs. I have noticed that because the food blogging community is a pretty tight-knit group, topics tend to travel and multiply amongst blogs. Take for instance Anadama Bread. I noticed 3 or 4 blogs with posts about this, or about other "thirded" breads. Thirded refers to the fact that there are usually 3 different types of flours in the dough. I read a very interesting post about the history of thirded breads over at What Smells So Good? I was immediately interested in Anadama Bread because it includes one of my favorite ingredients- molasses. So I did a little digging....

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Anadama Bread.

I ended up over at the foodtv website, and that's where I found the recipe I used.

Anadama Bread:

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
About 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons dark molasses
2 teaspoons salt
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
Butter or vegetable oil, for greasing the bowl and loaf pans
1 large egg, beaten with 2 tablespoons water, for egg wash
Combine the yeast, sugar, and 1/4 cup of the warm water in the mixer bowl or in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Set aside for about 10 minutes, while the yeast "blooms." When the yeast looks frothy, add the melted butter, molasses salt, flour, and cornmeal. Slowly add up to 1 cup more warm water, mixing with the dough hook or a wooden spoon. The amount of liquid may vary, depending on the flour, so add just enough water to form a soft, but not sticky dough. Knead by machine for about 10 minutes, or by hand for about 15 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Lightly oil or butter a large bowl. Shape the dough into a ball, place it in the bowl, and turn it once so it is lightly greased all over. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and place in a warm, draft-free spot. (An oven that has been heated to 200 degrees and then turned off is a perfect spot). Let the dough rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Grease 2 (9 1/2 by 5-inch) loaf pans. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut it in 1/2 and shape each 1/2 into a loaf. Place each in the greased loaf pans, return to the warm spot, and let the loaves rise until they are about doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the top of the loaves with the egg wash and bake for 1 hour, or until deep golden brown. To test for doneness, remove the hot bread from 1 pan and knock on the bottom of the loaf: you will hear a hollow sound if the bread is done. If necessary, return to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn both loaves out of the pans and cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes.

The bread turned out beautifully- if not a little heavy. And I must admit that I did not follow the prep instructions. I kneaded it and let it rise in my bread machine. That could be why the dough was heavier. Had I bloomed the yeast like it says to in the recipe, it might have been a little lighter.

My favorite way to eat it is to toast it in a skillet with butter- then enjoy with a cup of Earl Grey tea. It makes for a very yummie mid-week breakfast.

Of course, I also made one hell of a good peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich with it this week, too. But you can do whatever you want with your loaf!