Country Sage Loaves 🍞 are a delightful addition to any bread lover’s recipe collection, offering a unique blend of flavors that evoke warmth and comfort with every bite. These rustic loaves, boasting a subtle hint of sage and rosemary, are perfect for cozy evenings or special occasions like Christmas gatherings. With a prep time of just over an hour and a total time of about an hour and twenty-two minutes, you can have these aromatic loaves ready to grace your table in no time.
Let’s dive into the step-by-step process of crafting these Country Sage Loaves:
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 | Packet active dry yeast |
| 1 cup | Warm water |
| 1 cup | Sugar |
| 1/4 cup | Toasted wheat germ |
| 2 tbsp | Honey |
| 1 tsp | Rubbed sage |
| 1 tsp | Salt |
| 2 tsp | Dried rosemary |
| 1/2 tsp | Ground nutmeg |
| 2 – 2 1/2 | cups All-purpose flour |
Instructions:
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Activate the Yeast: In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water 🥣. Stir in the sugar and let it stand for about 5 minutes to activate the yeast.
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Mix Dry Ingredients: Add the toasted wheat germ, honey, rubbed sage, salt, dried rosemary, nutmeg, and 1 1/2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Beat until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
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Form Dough: Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough. Once the dough comes together, turn it onto a floured surface and knead it for about 6-8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
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First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, turning it once to grease the top. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, which should take approximately 45 minutes.
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Punch Down and Shape: Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release any air bubbles. Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and divide it in half. Shape each half into two oval loaves 🥖.
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Second Rise: Place the shaped loaves on a greased baking sheet and cover them. Let them rise again until doubled in size, which should take about 15 minutes.
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Preheat and Slash: While the loaves are rising, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Once the loaves have doubled in size, use a sharp knife to make three shallow slashes across the top of each loaf.
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Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake the loaves for 13-17 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
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Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the loaves from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice and serve the Country Sage Loaves 🍽️. These loaves are best enjoyed fresh, but you can also store them in an airtight container for a few days.
These Country Sage Loaves are not only delicious but also relatively healthy, with low cholesterol and a moderate calorie count. The combination of sage, rosemary, and nutmeg adds a delightful aroma and flavor to the bread, making it a perfect accompaniment to soups, stews, or enjoyed on its own with a smear of butter. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and embark on a culinary adventure to create these savory loaves that will surely become a favorite in your household! 🌿
