Cracked Pepper Seed Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast, 1 package
• 2 cups warm water (100 to 110 fahrenheit)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 5 1/4 cups bread flour, divided (~25 ounces)
• 1/2 cup wheat bran
• 5 tablespoons sunflower seeds, divided
• 2 1/4 teaspoons cracked black peppercorns, divided
• 2 1/4 teaspoons cracked green peppercorns, divided
• 1 large egg, beaten

Recipe

• 1 cooking time includes rising time, more like 2 hours, 45 minutes or there about.
• 2 dissolve yeast with 2 cups of warm water in a large bowl allow to stand 5 minutes. add honey, oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring with a whisk.
• 3 lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, level with a knife. add 3 cups flour and bran to yeast mix, stir until combined (if you are still using a whisk at this point, switch to a sturdy spoon or better yet your hands- sprayed with cooking spray to avoid everything getting stuck to your hands). cover and put in a warm, draft free place, for about 1 hour or until small bubbles appear on the surface.
• 4 add remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds 1/4 cup sesame seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns, 1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns stir until dough forms(if you are still using a whisk at this point, switch to a sturdy spoon or better yet your hands- sprayed with cooking spray to avoid everything getting stuck to your hands).
• 5 turn dough out onto a floured surface. knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). add remaining flour 1 teaspoon at a time to prevent dough from sticking to hands the dough should feel tacky. i find spraying my hands with the cooking spray helps prevent sticking to the hands as well.
• 6 place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (press 2 fingers into dough, if indention remains the dough has risen enough). punch down, cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• 7 divide dough in half, place each one in a loaf pan coated with cooking spray. cover and let rise again, in a warm place free from drafts for 45 minutes or until double in size.
• 8 preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
• 9 brush loaf tops with egg, springke with remiaing sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and 3/4 teaspoon black peppercorns and 3/4 teaspoon green peppercorns (i would use less peppercorns when making again).
• 10 bake at 400 degrees fahrenheit for 35 minutes or until loaves are browned on bottom and sound hollow when tapped. remove loaves from pans and cool on wire racks.
• 11 cooking light recommends cutting each loaf into 8 slices, i found this to be rather thick, and sliced thinner.