Heart Healthy Sandwich Bread.. you know, for your Valentine!

If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, the way to my heart is through a pan of freshly baked bread. Simple as that.

You, too, can have easy homemade sandwich bread in just 5 easy steps. Oh yeah, it contains both whole wheat flour and oats to make it really good for you.

This recipe is based on a traditional French wheat bread that is guaranteed to produce a lightly sweet, perfectly textured loaf every time. It's ideal for sandwiches but also makes fantastic French toast. You could even cut it into heart shapes if you really must but I suggest leaving the crusts on so you have something to really sink your teeth into. 

Heart Healthy Wheat-Oat Sandwich Bread
Yield: 1-1/2 lb loaf

1 1/4 cup warm water
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 cups bread flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup whole rolled oats
1 1/4 tsp yeast

1. Heat water to 80°F.
2. Combine ingredients in the pan of your bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.
3. Select "whole wheat" setting and set desired crust setting (I like "light" for this recipe).
4. Scrape down sides of pan after 5 minutes of mixing and add 1-2 Tbsp water if needed.
5. Remove loaf from bread pan as soon as baking cycle is complete and allow to cook on a wire rack before slicing.

Note: If you don't have oat flour, make your own. Pulse oats in a blender or food processor until they have the consistency of flour. Oat flour can be substituted for part of the wheat flour in any recipe, lowering the gluten content and helping to reduce cholesterol levels.

My favorite sandwich includes brown mustard, grilled tofu and avocado. What's in your favorite sandwich?

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