Great Grandma Northrups Brown Bread Or Graham Gems Recipes

OLD SCHOOL, NOVA SCOTIA BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, add bran, oatmeal. Add 4 cups boiling water and stir. Allow to stand for ten minutes. (The boiling water will melt the shortening, no need to melt beforehand)
• After 10 minutes proof the yeast; in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons yeast, 2 teaspoons sugar and one cup of warm water. Allow to stand 10 minutes to proof.
• Add to bran mixture, one cup of molasses, stir, then add the yeast mixture and stir.
• Knead in 10 ½ to 11 ½ cups of flour, move onto floured surface as required and knead until dough feels firm "like a baby's bottom". (This term has been used with this recipe, dating back 50+ years. Bread and babies have changed very little.)
• Let rise in a warm, dry spot until double in size
• Divide and move to greased/prepared bread pans (makes 3 large sized loafs).
• Let rise again in pans and bake at 350⁰F (180⁰C) for 40 minutes until golden brown.
• Remove from oven and cool before turning out of pans.

OLD-FASHIONED BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, pour boiling water over oats. Stir in butter and molasses. Let stand until mixture cools to 120°-130°, stirring occasionally., In another bowl, combine 3-1/2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Beat in oat mixture until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape into loaves. Place in two greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°. Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

GRANDMA'S BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Spray or grease 3 clean #3 cans (like from corn or beans). Sprinkle a couple of spoons of flour in one and roll around to coat. Pour the flour into the next one and repeat. Continue this with the third can. Discard reamining flour. Place cans in a cake pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. Combine raisins, and soda. Add butter. Pour over the 1 cup of hot water and stir. Let set until cool.
• 3. Add reamining ingredients and mix until smooth.
• 4. Divide batter amongst the three cans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.
• 5. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes in the cans. Run a knife around the outside of the can and invert onto a clean dishtowel. Finish cooling.
• 6. If the bread does not come out, punch a hole in the bottom of the can to release the vacuum.

GRANDMA'S BROWN BREAD (GRAHAM BREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Grease medium sized loaf pan.
• Mix dry ingredients together.
• Add wet ingredients to dry.
• Fold in nuts if desired.
• Batter will be thick.
• Bake in very slow 300 degree oven for about 55-60 minutes. Test near center with wooden skewer.
• Serve warm or room temperature with butter or your favorite spread. Or alone with a cuppa tea!
• Thanks Grandma!

GREAT GRANDMA NORTHRUP'S BROWN BREAD OR GRAHAM GEMS

Steps:

• Bake at 350*
• Combine above ingredients and spread in greased loaf pan.
• Bake until browned.
• For "gems", bake in muffin pan.

GRANDMOTHER'S GEMS (BISCUITS)

Steps:

• Before mixing batter, grease iron gem pans ( I think this is our cast iron pans) , place in oven, set control at 400 degrees, turn on the heat.
• Sift flour and baking powder.
• Beat eggs vigorously, add sugar, salt and butter. Add flour alternately with the milk. Pour into gem pans which should be smoking hot. Bake: requires about 10 minutes.
• Needless to say the temperature data is my own addition. No doubt my granmother tested oven and gem pan temperature as she did her flat iron, with a wet finger tip.

MY GRAMMA'S GRAHAM BREAD

Steps:

• Mix altogether and let stand 1 hour.
• Pour batter into 2 9x5 inch loaf pans.
• Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.