Irish Brown Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (white cake flour may be substituted for a slightly less dense bread)
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup wheat bran
• 3 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar (add a few more teaspoons if you like a sweeter bread - honey can be substituted.)
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium egg
• 1 medium egg white (used to brush top of unbaked loaf)
• 1 tablespoon oatmeal (used to sprinkle on top of loaf before baking)

Instructions

1. 1

   Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10 inch round baking pan.

2. 2

   Add the whole wheat flour to a large mixing bowl. Sift the whole wheat pastry flour or white bread flour, together with the baking soda into the mixing bowl.

3. 3

   Add the wheat germ, flaxseed, wheat bran, salt and brown sugar. Mix all of the dry ingredients well with a whisk.

4. 4

   Melt the butter in a glass pitcher in the microwave (about 20 seconds on high power). Mix the buttermilk, yogurt, melted butter and egg together in a separate bowl or pitcher.

5. 5

   Add the wet ingredients into the dry. Mix well together.

6. 6

   The mixture will be a little "wet". Transfer to the prepared pan. Press lightly down into the pan with floured hands or the back of a spoon.

7. 7

   Score the top of the bread with a cross, marking the loaf into four quarters. Brush the top with beaten egg white and sprinkle with dry oatmeal if desired.

8. 8

   Bake for 45 to 55 minutes. The bread is baked when tapped underneath and it has a hollow sound.

9. 9

   Wrap in a clean dish towel and allow to cool on a wire tray.