Crock Pot Bread

Did you know that you can bake crock pot bread with your slow cooker? Instead of using an oven, you can use the heat below your crock pot as a heating source for baking bread dough. Preparation time is slightly different and baking time definitely longer than a bread machine or oven but it is the perfect way to bake simple breads if you don't have any kitchen space left for a bread machine.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1 1/2 teaspons salt
• 2 3/4 cups whole wheat bread flour

Instructions:

1. First of all, to bake a crock pot bread, you will want to "preheat" the crock pot by setting the heat to high. Place a trivet at the bottom before you do this.

2. After that, get a mixing bowl and add in the yeast and warm water. Stir the solution until the yeast is dissolved.

3. Add in the egg, milk, honey, salt and oats and wheat germ. Mix well and gradually add in the flour and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.

4. Instead of using the removable crock as your baking pan, you will need to either get a deep non-stick bowl or can and grease it first before transfering the dough into it. By using non-stick bowl or can, it will make cleaning up easier for you later.

5. Put the bowl or can into the crock by placing it on the trivet then add in half cup of water for the steam so that the bottom of your crock pot will not go dry during the baking process.

6. Cover it with the glass lid and let it bake it for 3 hours on high.

7. When done, be sure to protect your hands by wearing a pair of oven gloves and carefully uncover the glass lid and remove the bowl or can from the crock pot. Let it stand for 5 minutes.

8. Turn the bowl or can upside down facing a clean surface and give it a good shake and the bread will pop up.

9. Let it cool on the wire rack before slicing. Enjoy! :)