Whole Wheat Fruit and Nut Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon organic evaporated cane sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water, (110 to 115 F)
• 3 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon natural brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3/4 cup warm milk, 2% (110 to 115 F)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup dates, chopped (about 9)
• 1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon water
• About a tablespoon of each of the following to sprinkle on top of the bread before baking:

  turbinado sugar, flaxseeds, millet, quinoa, roasted sesame seeds, rolled oats, pumpkin seeds (dried grated coconut and sunflower seeds would also be tasty – use your favorite ingredients)

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted (optional, to brush top of baked bread)

Preparation:

1. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with oil.
2. Mix the dry yeast and evaporated cane sugar in 1/4 cup warm water. Let mixture sit until it bubbles (about 5 minutes).
3. In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, salt, brown sugar, honey, warm milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, and yeast mixture. Beat 4 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer with bread attachment, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg and 1/2 cup flour. Beat 30 seconds at medium speed. Add nuts, fruit, seeds and 1/2 cup more flour. Beat 4 minutes at high speed. Add about 1/2 cup more flour, enough to make a soft dough that is not too sticky. Beat 6 minutes at high speed. Take dough out of bowl, spray bowl with olive oil spray then spray both sides of dough with spray.
4. Place bowl with dough in cold oven and cover bowl with kitchen towel. On a shelf below the dough, place a pan with hot water. Let rest 10 minutes inside oven.
5. Remove dough from oven and roll into 12×8 rectangle on cutting board, then roll up tightly into jelly roll, beginning on short end of dough. Pinch seam and ends to seal.  Place seam side down in greased loaf pan and back in oven to rise for about 2 hours until double in size. Make sure to add fresh hot water to the pan in the oven.
6. Once dough has risen, remove dough from oven along with the pan containing hot water. Turn oven on to 350 F. Brush top of dough with egg white mixture. Sprinkle with flaxseeds, millet, quinoa, sesame seeds, rolled oats, and pumpkin seeds. Brush on a little more egg white mixture so the oats will stick to top of bread. Sprinkle turbinado sugar all over the top.
7. Bake bread for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden. Remove bread from pan and cool on wire rack. Optional, brush top with melted butter. Make sure to cool bread completely before slicing!! Waiting will be difficult, but the bread continues to cook within the crust as it cools so… WAIT.