Health Loaf Bread
Watch Clodagh make this on ITV This Morning here
Makes 1 loaf
INGREDIENTS:
450g/3½ cups wholemeal flour
65g/½ cup wheat germ, plus extra for dusting
65g/½ cup plain white flour
65g/½ cup wheat bran
65g/½ cup ground flax
1 tbsp ground spirulina
225g/1¾ cup pin-head oatmeal
2 tsp soft brown sugar
2½ tsp bread soda or bicarbonate of soda
1 litre/2 (US) pints buttermilk
For the topping
2 tsp (one per loaf) wheat germ
2 tsp (one per loaf) sesame seeds
2 tsp (one per loaf) pumpkin seeds
METHOD:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 230°C/450°F/Gas Mark 8.
2. Pour all the dry ingredients in to a large bowl and mix together.
3. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and gradually stir in the buttermilk using a wooden spoon to make a moist dough.
4. Divide the dough between 2 greased 900g (2lb) loaf tins which have been dusted with wheat germ. Smooth the top and make a spacious cross on each one with a floured knife. Sprinkle with wheat germ, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.
5. Place in the pre-heated oven at 230°C/450°F/Gas Mark 8 for ten minutes, and then reduce the heat to 140°C/275°F/Gas Mark 1 and bake for one hour.
6. When the loaves are cooked, remove from the oven and partly cool in the tins, then turn out and leave to cool completely on a cooling rack.
