Cottage Cheese Wheat Bread

Grandmother E. with Kyle — September 1990

One of the great treats when visiting Cache Valley was eating Grandmother's Homemade Wheat Bread. It was always the very best—so light and delicious. I tried since 1982 to made bread; even with using her recipe, my loaves were more like bricks. She would give me pointers when I asked, but was perplexed that mine didn't turn out. Hers always did. I know that Barbara also makes a cottage cheese bread, so we'll have to post her recipe also. Mom's bread is also always so wonderful. Now, I cheat and make a version in my bread machine. I've posted both the 'real' recipe, and the cheater version below.

Daily Whole Wheat Bread (Grandmother's favorite)

2 c. water

1/2 c. instant potato flakes

1/2 c. sugar

1 T. salt 

1/4 c. oil

3 T. yeast

2 c. cottage cheese

1 t. soda

2 eggs, beaten

8 c. whole wheat flour, freshly ground, or white flour

Heat water to boiling.  Add instant potato.  Mix well.  Add sugar, salt and oil.  Cool to warm.  Add yeast.  Heat cottage cheese to lukewarm.  Add soda to cottage cheese.  Add eggs.  Mix all liquids.  Add flour.  Knead.  Let raise until double.  Let raise again.  Shape into loaves and let raise.  Bake at 400° for 10 minutes and then at 350° for 25 minutes.

Grandmother did not like to have us take pictures, but we were able to get the one above as she was holding Kyle. He turned  20 this week. Five days after he was born, his great-grandfather E. passed away. I remember being so sad that Kyle wouldn't get to know this great ancestor. We gathered in Cache Valley. The picture above shows Dee with cousin Susan, Kyle, Erik and an aunt? (someone help me with identifying here.)  — September 1990

Dee's Cheater Bread Machine Version of Cottage Cheese Wheat Bread

1 c. warm water

1/4 c. cottage cheese

3 T. oil

3 T. sugar or honey

2 T. dry milk

2 T. ground flax

2 t. salt

2 c. wheat flour

2 c. white flour

2 t. instant quick rise yeast

Put all in bread machine in order. Turn on regular white bread program. Can add cooked cereal or cooked whole wheat or sunflower seeds, etc. when machine "beeps" to add items. I like to take out with 20 min. remaining in program, so the crust is not so hard. Haven't tried adding potato flakes, but will after reviewing Grandmother's recipe. Experiment! Makes 2 lb. loaf.

Barbara, holding William's hand, with Cheryl, Doug, Aunt Tana, Michelle, Jan and Kyle — September 1990