Adobe Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup lard or shortening
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 2 cups very warm water (120 to 130 degrees F)
• 3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Mix whole wheat flour, sugar, shortening, salt and yeast in a large bowl; stir in warm water. Beat on low speed of electric mixer for 1 minute, scraping the bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough all-purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
2. Place in a greased bowl. Turn the greased side up. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double, 40 to 60 minutes. The dough is ready when an indentation remains when dough is touched.
3. Punch dough down, divide into halves, and let rest for 5 minutes.
4. Shape into 2 round, slightly flat, loaves. Place loaves on opposite corners of a large greased cookie sheet. Cover with a dry cloth and set to rise another 45 minutes.
5. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
6. Make 1/2-inch deep slashes across the top of each loaf in a lattice, bear paw or squash blossom design. Sprinkle each loaf with 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour.
7. Bake loaves for 35 to 40 minutes, until they are light brown and sound hollow when tapped.