Lithuanian Baltic Rye Bread (Sourdough)

This bread slices beautifully and is spectacular with lots of butter and cheese.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon  yeast (1 pkg.)
• 1⁄2 cup  lukewarm water
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 2  cups  leftover coffee
• 1 (1 ounce)  semi-sweet chocolate baking square
• 1⁄4 cup molasses
• 2  cups  sourdough starter
• 2  tablespoons caraway seeds
• 2  tablespoons salt
• 2  cups  100% bran, cereal that's been ground in a blender
• 6  cups  rye flour, about

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F degrees.
2. Proof the yeast in the lukewarm water with the sugar.
3. Bring the coffee to a boil, turn off the heat, and stir in the chocolate to let it melt. Add the molasses and stir again. Let cool until lukewarm.
4. Blend together the yeast mixture, the coffee mixture and the sourdough starter. Add the caraway seeds, salt, ground bran cereal and stir in the flour, cup by cup.
5. When you have a dough that you can knead, place it on a lightly floured (all purpose flour) work surface, kneading until elastic and shiny.
6. Place in a large buttered bowl, cover with a towel and let stand in a warm place to rise until doubled in bulk. This should take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
7. Take the dough out again and punch down a couple of times. Divide into 2 equal pieces, shape these into two round loaves and place on a buttered baking sheet. Cover with a towel and let stand in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
8. Bake about 50 to 55 minutes or until brown and the breads sound hollow when tapped with your finger. Cool the breads wrapped in a towel. Two loaves. Can be frozen.
9. Breads Of The World.