| 1/2 | tsp. salt |
| 1/2 | tsp. baking soda |
| 14 | oz. (weight) whole wheat flour |
| 6 | oz. whole rye flour |
| 1 | T. vital wheat gluten flour |
| 1/2 | T. soybean flour (optional) |
| 10 | oz. (volume) cold tap water |
| 1 | T. cold tap water |
| 1/2 | c. sourdough starter |
| 1 | T. honey |
| 2 | T. blackstrap molasses |
This recipe requires a breadmaker designed for 100% whole wheat bread. Add salt and soda to bottom of clean dry breadmaker pan. Combine flours, stirring well. Add flour mixture to breadmaker pan and level. Place 10 oz of water in 2 cup measuring cup. Add sourdough starter to make a total of 14 oz. Add honey, molasses, and Tablespoon of water and stir well. Pour mixture into breadmaker pan, using spoon to prevent liquid from penetrating flour deeply. Stir shallowly to mix top layer of flour into liquid to form a runny mixture the consistency of thick soup. Some lumps are OK. Set breadmaker for whole wheat and a delay of at least 10 hours before the bread is finished. The sourdough ferments until the breadmaker starts its cycle, then causes the bread to rise. The results will vary with room temperature. If the bread falls (lower in the center than sides), decrease the time. If it is round on top, but low, increase the time. This loaf is normally much lower and denser than white loaves (3/4 high in the pan). The soda neutralizes the acid in the bread and should not be omitted.
CARE AND FEEDING OF SOURDOUGH STARTER
Keep your sourdough starter in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. A wide mouth quart mason jar with a lid is ideal. When the starter is used down to less than 7 OZ, it's time to feed it. Add 1 cup of unbleached white flour and one cup cool to SLIGHTLY warm water to your jar, and stir well. Let set for 24 hours at room temperature to ferment (cover loosely-air is required for fermentation-a plastic sandwich bag held upside down on one side by a rubber band around the jar top is convenient). Keep the sourdough starter clear of contamination. Freeze a small sample in a sealed glass jar in case you lose your starter. It will keep this way for a very long time (years).