Preparation:
Mix the last three ingredients in a measuring cup, let sit for a couple
minutes, then pour into the flour. Put the honey and molasses into the same cup, add 1 cup water, stir it to dissolve, then pour it
into the flour. Mix the dough, adding the remaining 1/4-1/2 cup of water as necessary to get all the flour into the dough. When the dough is ready to start kneading, put 3 cups of water in a large glass jar or bowl, and put in the microwave for 6-8 minutes on HIGH until it begins to boil. (The water, according to my microwave book, acts as a heat absorber and moderator. I never tried making bread without it, so it may or may not be necessary.) While the water is heating, kneed the dough. (I use an extra-large stainless steel mixing bowl to make bread, so I just kneed the dough in the same bowl I used to mix it. Makes clean up a snap.) Kneed for about 8 minutes, or until the water is boiling.
**Very** lightly grease two 6-cup microwave bowls with vegetable oil.
Cut the dough into two pieces, form these pieces into balls by turning
the sides down and under, "twist" the bottom of the balls closed, and
put the two balls into the two bowls, twist side down. Put the bowls of
dough into your microwave along with the jar of boiled water and
microwave on the low power setting (i.e., "1" or "10") for 20-25
minutes to let the dough rise. The dough will approximately double in
size. Don't "punch it down" or kneed it a second time--just microwave
on HIGH for 10 minutes to "bake" it. (I do this all at one time by
programming my microwave to cook at "10" for 18 minutes, then "HIGH" for
10 minutes.) After "baking", remove the bread by simply turning the
bowls upside down and shaking out the bread. You'll have two small
round loaves when d |
