100% Whole Wheat Buttermilk Bread

100% whole grain bread is a excellent addition to anyone's diet, especially if it is preservative-free. But, if your family is anything like mine and you eat bread like you drink water, the cost of purchasing high-quality whole wheat bread will add up quickly. Even if you frequent a bread outlet store, it can still get pricey.

That is why I highly recommend making your own. While it can, even with a bread machine, take some extra time to make your own bread, the savings are certainly worth it. I still buy a few loaves a month but I also make homemade bread to supplement our diet and save a little extra money.

While there are quite a few whole wheat recipes out there, many require a large amount of ingredients per loaf making it rather pricey and the more basic recipes can turn out pretty heavy. That is why I love this Whole Wheat Buttermilk recipe. It requires very few ingredients while remaining light, fluffy and delicious:

100% Whole Wheat Buttermilk Bread

• 1-1/2 c. buttermilk
• 1-1/2 T. butter or olive oil
• 2 T. sugar
• 3/4 t. salt
• 3-1/3 c. 100% whole wheat flour
• 1-1/2 t. active dry yeast

In your bread machine, combine the ingredients as specified by the manufacturer (usually add the wet ingredients first, then the dry ingredients, then the yeast last) then select the appropriate settings.

This recipe yields a 2 pound loaf. It may be frozen for future use, making sure to seal it completely to prevent it from drying out.

If you do not have buttermilk, you can easily substitute with sour milk. To make sour milk, combine 1-1/2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar with 1-1/2 cups milk. Let sit for 2 to 3 minutes to sour. Then use in place of the buttermilk.

For more recipes and homemaking tips, check out: Frugally Sustainable, Ginger Snap Crafts, The Better Mom and It's A Keeper.