Crusty Wheat Bread Recipe

[BlueMoose]

To my great dismay, I cannot find a decent crusty wheat bread where I live. I hate to resort to making my own http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif , but I'm really craving it! I do have a bread machine but I don't like the square loaves, so I prefer to reshape them and bake them in the oven. Does anyone have a good bread machine recipe that isn't too complicated but produces a substantial wheat bread? Also, how do you get the crust to get nice and crusty?

I would even appreciate suggestions for good bread machine mixes. I really don't have a lot of time to spend on this!

TIA!
Chrisi

[RunnerKim]

Chrisi,

If you want a crisp crust there are a few things you can do (with any recipe). You'll have to bake it in the oven - just doesn't work in the bread machine. Ideally use a (pizza) stone to bake it on. It should be preheated for an hour. When you first put the bread in the oven put a pan with hot water on the rack beneath it - the steam will give a crisper crust. Also use a squirt bottle and spritz the sides of the oven - after putting the bread in and again 2 minutes later. Careful of the lightbulb though!

Hmmm - you can also coat the dough prior to baking it to give it a crisper crust. I haven't done much of this, maybe someone else will be able to give you details on this.

Can't help on the mixes because I've never used any.

Kim

[funnybone]

There have been some discussions on this topic in recent weeks. Here are some recent links:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/007116.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/007435.html