Apple Butter Rye Bread

• apple juice↗1 cup
• water↗1⁄2 cup
• lemon juice↗1 teaspoon
• apple butter1⁄2 cup
• large egg (beaten)↗1
• butter (softened)↗2 tablespoons
• walnuts (chopped, then toasted in a hot dry iron skillet)1 cup
• bread flour↗2 1⁄3 cups
• whole wheat flour↗1 cup
• rye flour↗1 1⁄3 cups
• brown sugar↗1⁄4 cup
• green cardamom pods↗30

  (OPTIONAL ~ open pods and grind seeds with the brown sugar above)

• powdered milk↗2 tablespoons
• vital wheat gluten, PLUS↗2 tablespoons
• vital wheat gluten↗1 teaspoon
• teaspoons salt↗1 1⁄2
• tablespoon bread machine yeast↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Put first six ingredients into bread machine pan.

2. 2

   Toast chopped walnuts in a hot dry iron skillet ~ set aside in a large bowl to cool.

3. 3

   Measure flours and add to bowl with toasted walnuts.

4. 4

   Shell cardamom pods and grind the seeds with brown sugar ~ add to bowl of dry ingredients.

5. 5

   Add dry milk powder and vital wheat gluten to other dry ingredients.

6. 6

   Spoon dry ingredients into bread machine pan, on top of wet ingredients.

7. 7

   In one corner of bread machine pan, add salt ~ in an opposite corner, add the bread machine yeast.

8. 8

   Select DOUGH CYCLE ~ after about 10 minutes of mixing, check dough consistency ~ if too dry, add water one tablespoon at a time ~ if too wet, add flour one tablespoon at a time, until dough is smooth and not ragged.

9. 9

   Divide dough and shape into two one-pound loaves ~ LET DOUGH RISE UNTIL DOUBLED. ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR PROPER RISE ~ If dough doesn't rise enough, the bread will be dense!

10. 10

    For two one-pound loaves, bake in a preheated 350F oven, in glass pans, for 20 minutes ~ tent with foil and continue baking another 10-15 minutes.

11. 11

    For one two-pound loaf, bake in a preheated 350F oven, in glass pans, for 20 minutes ~ tent with foil and continue baking another 20-25 minutes.

12. 12

    NOTE: I have not baked this recipe in a complete bread machine baking cycle.