Whole Wheat Molasses Bread

This recipe is from the Joy the Baker Website (www.joythebaker.com). This recipe comes together very quickly, and is very easy to make. I tried a slice spread with Nutella, as she suggested.....and I can say is, "WOW!" Makes one 8×4 or 9×5-inch loaf

1 2/3 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup molasses

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8×4 or 9×5-inch loaf pan. Non-stick baking spray works well too.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, salt and baking soda.

In a small bowl whisk together buttermilk or yogurt and molasses.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold to combine. The batter will be slightly thick, but not dry. Spoon batter into prepared pan and place in the oven. Bake loaf for 45 minutes to an hour. Depending on how evenly your oven bakes, you might want to rotate the loaf in the middle of baking. Be careful though. Don’t manhandle it too hard or it might deflate.

(Note: Also, don't pull it out of the oven even a few minutes early, even if it looks like it is done or possibly even overdone.....I ruined the first loaf doing that)

When a skewer inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, remove the loaf from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes in the loaf pan. Run a butter knife along the sides of the pan and carefully invert onto a wire rack.

Loaf will keep, well wrapped at room temperature, for up to 4 days.

Serve with cream cheese, jam, salted butter or Nutella.