I have always found bread baking to be an intensely spiritual and creative act. You mix, you knead, you wait. It is prayer.

In our Convent during Lent, we always make an effort to serve a traditional Lenten meal, most often with candlelight and readings. A simple sampling of hard boiled eggs, cheese, some dried fruits, and nuts, is always accompanied by a smorgasbord of beautiful homemade breads. Tonight is no exception. With 65 Sisters in our Convent, we start early with our bread baking and continue through the day.

I am partial to this recipe, one that my grandmother passed on to me, and I am blessed to pass it on to you. It is wonderful sliced and toasted with a big smear of butter and jam. Don’t be daunted by making bread—there is really no fear to be had here! Bake and break bread with your family this Lent and see what God can do.

Print Recipe

Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:

Rate this recipe!

Convent English Muffin Bread

SERVINGS 2loaves CHANGE SERVING SIZE loaves

COOK TIME 25minutes

PREP TIME 15​minutes

READY IN 2hours or less

Ingredients

• ½ cup water very warm (tap)
• 2 tablespoons yeast active, dry, (not instant) – about 2 envelopes
• 2 cups milk heated to 125 degrees in microwave or on stove
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 6 cups flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal/crisco for pans

Instructions

1. Lightly grease two 8” loaf pans with Crisco and sprinkle the cornmeal over the bottom of the pans. Set aside
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
3. Sprinkle your yeast over the very warm water, mix with a fork and leave for about 5 min. until bubbles form and your yeast is “active”. (If your yeast doesn’t do anything at this stage, throw it out and begin again!)
4. Microwave your milk until it is very warm to the touch, but not so much that you can’t stick your finger in it, about 125 degrees
5. Add your warm milk to your active yeast mixture in a large bowl and sprinkle the sugar over. Mix with a wooden spoon.
6. Add ​the​ flour, one cup at a time, stirring the dough as you go. After adding about 2 cups of flour, add your salt and baking soda, then add the remainder of your flour.
7. The dough will look quite dry and stiff at this point, so remove the dough onto a counter and knead the rest of the flour into the dough until it is a smooth dough.
8. Divide the dough in half, form two oblong loaves and press these into the prepared pans.
9. Put the dough in a warm place to rise, covered with a tea towel, for about 45 min. The dough should be doubled in size.
10. Bake in a 400 degree oven until golden brown and cooked through, about 25 min.
11. Remove from the pans immediately onto a cooling rack and let cool.