Whole Grain Bread

I got this amazing bread machine for Christmas from my best friend and her husband, and though I have made pizza dough and english muffins in it, I have surprisingly yet to make a loaf of actual bread....until now! I've been reading a lot about the differences in whole wheat and whole grain, and have sided with the benefits of whole grains. This bread is rustic and crunchy on the outside, yet fluffy and full of good for you grains like oats, flax seed, wheat germ, and barley. I couldn't resist slicing off a piece right out of the machine and slathering it in butter. Mmmmmmm.

Whole Grain Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 1/2 cups sifted bread flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup 7-grain cereal (I bought mine from Sprouts Farmer's Market)
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. active dry yeast

In your bread machine, pour in the ingredients in the above order listed, except for the yeast. After you have poured in the brown sugar, take your finger and make a small well in the dry ingredients to place the yeast in. It is very important that the yeast does not come in contact with the liquid ingredients.

Choose the whole wheat setting on your bread machine, and the medium crust option. Once it has finished cooking (about 3.5 hours) take the bread out immediately (pan will be hot, use oven mitts) and let cool on the counter for 10 minutes before slicing.