Oatmeal Bread or Biscuits

Ingredients

• 0.5 oz Active dry yeast (Equivalent to ½ yeast cake)
• 0.5 cup Lukewarm water (For dissolving yeast)
• 1 cup Rolled oats
• 4.5 cups All-purpose flour
• 1.5 cups Boiling water (Approximately, to hydrate oats)
• 0.25 cup Molasses
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Butter, melted

Instructions

1. 1In a small bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast in ½ cup of lukewarm water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
2. 2In a separate bowl, add boiling water to the rolled oats and let stand for one hour.
3. 3After the oats have soaked, add the molasses, salt, melted butter, and dissolved yeast mixture to the oats. Mix well.
4. 4Gradually add the flour to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5. 5Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
6. 6Punch down the dough and beat thoroughly. Turn it into a buttered bread pan. Let it rise again for 30-45 minutes, or until almost doubled.
7. 7Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
8. 8Let the bread cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. 9For biscuits: Use ½ cup less flour. The dough will be soft and difficult to handle. To make shaping easier, drop spoonfuls of the mixture into a plate of flour and cover your palms well with flour before shaping.