Instructions: Another recipe from James Beards book, "Beard On Bread". About this bread James Beard says, "I learned to make this bread in Norway, at Mrs Ovenstads farm near Oslo. She bakes it twice a week, and though she resorts to heating the dough over steam for the second rising, it comes out beautifully. She is also a deft pastry cook and gardner, and loves to eat.

(2 large Loaves)"

about 1/2 cup at a time. You may need to add 3 more cups, give or take a bit.

Form into a ball, place into a greased bowl, turn and cover. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, probably about 1 hour.

Punch down and knead 10 minutes, then cut into two equal pieces, form loaves, and allow to rise again.

You may elect to allow the bread to rise a second time in the bowl. If so, James Beard feels that the bread may need some help in the second rising, in the form of a bit of heat. I am not so sure, as this was a very willing bread dough. Then again, I almost always rise my bread in a Microwave oven anyway.

As to baking, this bread requires about 1 hour in a 400 F. oven.

This bread should have a good crunchy crust.

I have made this loaf without the wheat berries, as the crust and bread is delightful without the berries, and some members of the family refer to soft berries as "erasers" and hard berries as "rocks" - refusing to eat bread with either. However, with a bit of practice, you will be able to use the wheat berries at the right point so they will be neither "rocks" or

"erasers".

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.