WHEAT BERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Place the wheat berries in a strainer, rinse well under running water, and drain.
• Bring 1 1/2 cups tap water to a boil in a small saucepan and add the berries.
• Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the berries are soft and the water is absorbed, about 1 hour.
• After the berries have cooked for 20 minutes, stir together the yeast, 1/2 cup of the warm water, and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour in a large bowl.
• Let rise for about 40 minutes.
• Stir the remaining 1 cup warm water, the oil, molasses, honey, salt, and whole-wheat flour into the yeast mixture.
• Add the flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and 1 cup all-purpose flour.
• When the mixture becomes too stiff to stir, turn it out onto a floured work surface and knead.
• Flatten the dough and press in the cooked wheat berries.
• Knead in the remaining 1/3 cup all-purpose flour until the dough is elastic and springs back when lightly pressed, about 6 minutes.
• Form the dough into a ball, place it in an oiled bowl, and turn the dough in the bowl to coat it well with oil.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until the dough does not spring back when lightly pressed, about 2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, press it flat, fold both the sides in and roll the dough into a log.
• Pinch the seam closed and set it into an oiled 10 x 4 x 3-inch loaf pan.
• Push the dough down flat.
• Place the pan in a plastic bag and tuck the bag opening under the pan to close.
• Let rise until the dough domes up and does not spring back when lightly pressed, about 1 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Remove the pan from the plastic bag.
• Using a sharp serrated knife, cut 3 diagonal slashes across the top of the loaf.
• Place the bread in the oven, spritz the inside of the oven a few times with water from a plant mister, and quickly close the door.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes.
• To test for done-ness, remove the bread from the pan and rap the bottom.
• It should sound hollow.
• If it is not quite done, continue baking out of the pan up to 10 minutes more.
• Cool on a wire rack.