Swedish Limpa Bread
"This homemade Swedish rye bread is easy to make if you follow the step-by-step directions. It is a traditional bread of Sweden - laced with brown sugar, molasses, caraway seeds, and orange peel. Try it toasted with lots of sweet butter or sprinkle it with grated Cheddar cheese and broil until cheese is melted and browned. It's also good for a simple ham and cheese sandwich!"
photo by LifeIsGood
- Ready In:
- 3hrs 35mins
- Ingredients:
- 14
- Yields:
-
2 loaves
ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1⁄4 cup light molasses or 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 1⁄4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon anise seed or 1 teaspoon caraway seed
- 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
- 1⁄2 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
- 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
- 4 1⁄2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
- 4 cups unsifted rye flour
- cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
directions
- in a large bowl, combine sugar, molasses, 1/4 cup butter, the salt, anise and orange peel. Add 1 cup boiling water; stir until sugar dissolves and butter melted. Add 1 cup cold water. Cool to lukewarm. Check temperature of warm water with thermometer.
- Sprinkle yeast over water in measuring cup; stir until dissolved. Add to molasses mixture; mix well. Gradually add 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 cup rye flour; beat vigorously until smooth and dough leaves sides of bowl. Gradually add 3 cups rye flour.
- Mix in last of flour with hand until dough leaves side of bowl. (Dough will be stiff.) Turn out onto lightly floured pastry cloth or board. Knead until smooth and elastic - about 10 minutes. Place in lightly greased large bowl; turn dough to bring up the greased side.
- Cover with towel; let rise in warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, until double in bulk - about 1-1/2 hours. Grease a large cookie sheet, and sprinkle lightly with cornmeal. Punch down dough and turn out onto lightly floured pastry cloth or board. Cut in half.
- Shape each half into an oval. With palms of hands, on lightly floured surface, roll each half into a loaf, 12 inches long, tapering ends. Place on prepared cookie sheet, 5 inches apart.
- Cover with towel; let rise in warm place, free from drafts, until double in bulk - 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. With sharp knife, make four diagonal slashes on top of loaf, 1/4-inch deep. Bake on middle shelf 35 minutes; cover with foil last 10 minutes, if necessary. Brush with butter. Serve warm, or cool on rack.
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Reviews
-
Fantastic bread. I halved the recipe and it yielded one very large loaf. It rose beautifully. I used both the anise and caraway seeds and the flavor in the bread is wonderful. I think it's best toasted with some butter. Yum! I love making breads and this one is a winner. Made for the Soup-A-Stars for ZWT9
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
JackieOhNo!
Stormville, New York
I didn't start cooking until my early 20's, even though I come from a family of accomplished and admired home cooks. While I grew up watching my Italian grandmother in the kitchen, I remained uninterested in trying anything on my own. As a young lady, I was known for being particularly ignorant in the kitchen, with no idea how to even make a hot dog! All this changed, however, when I got engaged. I realized it was time to let my inherent talents out of the bag. At the time, the New York Times had a weekly column called The 60-Minute Gourmet by Pierre Franey. Each week, I would follow these recipes diligently, and taught myself to cook that way. From there, I began to read cookbooks and consult with relatives on family recipes. At my ripe old age now, I feel I know enough to put together a very pleasing meal and have become accomplished in my own right. Having an Irish father and an Italian mother, I'm glad I inherited the cooking gene (and the drinking one too!). One thing I have learned is that simpler is always better! I always believe cooking fills a need to nurture and show love. After being widowed fairly young and living alone with my dog and cats, I stopped cooking for awhile, since I really had no one to cook for. I made care packages for my grown son occasionally, and like to cook weekly for my boyfriend, so I feel like I am truly back in the saddle!!
