Pinto Bean Wheat Bread

Pinto Bean Wheat Bread

1 cup bean puree made with pinto beans (you can also use reconstituted refried beans for this recipe)

1 cup lukewarm water

1 T. honey

1 pkg. active dry yeast

2 T. vegetable oil

1 t. salt

3 cups whole wheat flour

¾ to 1 ½ cups all purpose flour

In a large bowl combine water and honey, stirring to mix together completely.  Dissolve the yeast in the honey/water mixture.  Let stand until mixture appears foamy.  Stir in bean puree, oil, and salt.  Gradually add whole wheat flour, stirring occasionally.  Add all purpose flour the same way.  Mix until dough is stiff.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.  (I presently do this recipe in my Bosch or Kitchen Aid mixer for about 7 to 8 minutes knead time.)  Return dough to bowl.  Spray non-stick spray on a piece of plastic wrap big enough to cover the bowl.  Place plastic wrap with the non-stick side facing down to prevent the dough from drying as it rises.  Allow dough to rise until doubled in size.  Form loaf, place it in your bread pan, and let it rise again to double in size.  (Still cover it with the sprayed plastic wrap.)  Once it’s risen, bake it at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes, or until golden brown.  Immediately remove from bread pan and allow it to cool on its side.  (Note: if you cook this in a solar oven it will not get “golden brown” but you can use the “hollow thump test” to ensure doneness.  Cooking time will take approximately 2 hours in a solar oven.)