Angela Lansbury's Recipe: Power Loaf

Angela Lansbury holds a record in Tony Awards. Her first Tonys were won for musicals: “I Am a Camera” in 1952, “The Lark” in 1956 and so on. Finally, this year she won another one: her fifth Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Play with “Blithe Spirit”. Angela Lansbury is famous for her actress career, for her fitness tips – back in the 90’s she was a fitness guru – and for her recipes.

I’ll present you her recipe for Power Loaf, made for two loaves.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cracked wheat

• 2 cups boiling water

• 2/3 cup warm water

• 1 cup bran flakes

• 4 cups stone-ground wheat flour

• 3/4 cup quick cooking oats

• 1/2 cup wheat germ

• 3 tablespoons shortening

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 2 packets active dry yeast

Instructions

Take a large bowl and pour the boiling water over 1 1/2 cups cracked wheat. Now stir in shortening, salt and honey, letting it cool to lukewarm when you’re done.

Sprinkle 2 packets active dry yeast into warm water and let stand until frothy. Then add it to wheat mixture. Stir in 3 cups flour, gradually; also stir bran flakes, wheat germ and oats. After you mix it well, cover the bowl with a damp cloth.

Punch the dough down, on a floured surface, knead until it gets smooth and elastic. In case the dough it’s sticky, blend in some of the remaining flour. Take two greased loaf pans and put the dough, covering them and letting rise in a warm place until they double.

This being done, bake the loaves in 350^o F until they sound hollow when tapped and are well browned; it should take about 45 minutes.