Pompernickle Or Black Bread

Prepare a sponge with a pint of white flour, three-fourths of a yeast cake, a little salt and sugar, and a pint of warm water. When light, add two quarts of rye meal, a tablespoonful of salt and about one quart of water. Mix well, and let rise over night. The next morning add about one quart of warm rye meal, and one of white flour; knead the dough for at least one-half hour. Let rise again, knead a little more, and shape into loaves. When light, bake in a hot oven for about an hour. Pure rye meal may be used in place of one-fourth white flour.

Whole Wheat Bread

Prepare the same as black bread. Use whole wheat flour in place of rye meal.

Light Whole Wheat Bread

Make a sponge from one cupful of luke warm water and one cake of yeast, with enough white flour to make the thickness of sponge cake. Cover and set in a warm place, about 90 degrees F. When foamy, add about three pints of luke warm water, or milk which has been scalded and cooled to luke warm, about two teaspoonsful of salt, a little sugar and a piece of butter or fat. Stir into it with a spoon sufficient white flour to make it of the same consistency as the first sponge. Beat it from 10 to 15 minutes, dust the top with flour, and put it into a warm place to rise. When light, add enough whole wheat flour to make a stiff dough. Put it on bread-board with flour to prevent sticking, knead for half an hour or longer, and let it rise again. When light, shape in loaves without kneading, put into pans and prick top with a fork several times. When sufficiently raised, bake in hot oven for about an hour. Cover top with pieces of oiled paper, the first 20 or 30 minutes. When done, put the bread on a sieve or in towels to cool.

Light Graham Bread

Prepare in the same manner as light whole wheat bread.

White Bread

Prepare the same as whole wheat bread, using pure, rich milk, cream and water, or sweet whey. Add a large piece of butter or cocoanut. Use white flour instead of whole wheat, mix it with one-fourth white corn meal, or rice flour.

Coffee Cake

Prepare the same as white bread, using less flour, and add a few well beaten eggs, the grated rind of several lemons and oranges, or flavor with nutmeg, dried fruit, vanilla, mace or bitter almonds. Serve with fresh, sweet milk, or with scalded milk, as a whole meal for supper.

All breads and cakes made with yeast are more nutritious and wholesome when stale, on account of the evaporation of water and the changes which take place in the bread. They should be kept in tins with holes on all sides, to allow a perfect circulation of air. The tins should be placed in the sunlight, or on a high, dry place near a stove. In many foreign countries pompernickle is kept for many months during the winter by placing it on top of high stone ovens near the ceiling. It finally assumes a sweet taste similar to that of nuts.

Bread and cake may be kept sweet and free from mildew for a long time in the following way: Cut it with a sharp knife, when about four days old, into slices about one inch thick, then place it on a large, wire screen in the hot sunshine, cover with a cheese cloth, and let it lie for several hours, turning each slice until thoroughly dry. Then place the slices in an upright position in a square box made of wire screening, and keep in a dry or sunny place, covered with a light cloth. The box may be placed in the sunshine several times a week.