Instructions: Soak oatmeal in boiling water by pouring water over oats. Cool to warm.

Pour yeast over lukewarm water. Let stand about 5 min. Add to the soaked oats, salt, molasses and butter. Stir yeast and add to mixture. Next add and stir in first 2 cups of the flour, then two more cups. (Add the last two as you knead) Leave the dough in the large bowl. Scatter half cup flour on top. With the heel of your hand, press into the dough one quick firm press. Then with you fingers get hold of it and shift it around in the bowl, sometimes turning it over. With the heel of your hand again press deeply into it and repeat over and over again. As the flour you are using gradually merges into dough, add more and continue kneading till last two cups of flour are used up. This might take ten min. or five. If dough is very sticky; add a little more flour.

When the flour is all worked in, shape the dough into a mound in the center of bowl, and cover and let rise about 2 times the size. Cut it down with a knife, cutting back and forth about 6 times. Divide and place into two 5x9x3 well greased loaf pans, shaping the dough out to the ends to entirely cover bottom of pans. Let the dough be fairly level and smooth on top. Cover and let rise again. Put in preheated 325 degree oven on a rack about 4 inches from bottom. Bake for 50 min. When done, place right side up on rack so air can circulate underneath. Butter tops. When cool, place in plastic bag and freeze if you wish.

So easy. You cant ruin this bread!

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