Homemaker Mondays and Making a Happy Home Monday ~ Holiday Bread

Homemaker Mondays is hosted by Robyn at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven
Making a Happy Home Monday is hosted by LL at As for me and my house...
HOLIDAY BREAD

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon orange peel
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
1 3/4 cups cool water
3/4 cups golden raisins
1/4 cup orange juice
1/8 cup salted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup minced walnuts

• In a small bowl pour orange juice over the raisins. Let set 1/2 hour. Pour off remaining juice before using fruit.
  
• In a LARGE mix together the flours, salt, yeast and water in a large bowl. Stir until you need to use your hands to form a sticky dough.
• When the dough is smooth and uniform work in the fruit and nuts.
• Cover the bowl with press-n-seal and let rest at room temperature for at least 8 hours or better yet over night. Dough will bubble and rise quite a bit.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into desired shapes to fit lightly greased covered stoneware bakers. I make 2 loaf pan sizes. Place in pan smooth side up.
  
• Let rise another 2 hours or until your thumb print remains when you poke the dough.
• Just before placing in oven slice across the tops several times to allow the steam to escape.
• Place bread in cold oven and set temperature to 450 degrees.
  
• Bake 45 minutes, uncover and bake another 5-10 minutes until golden brown and 205 degrees internal temperature.
• Cool on rack before slicing.
  

♥