This bread confounds me. It probably graced farm tables in the Tyrol and I'm sure it was known to Heidi and her Grandfather. It has no cache. It's a bit heavy and lacks any pretense of sophistication. I shouldn't like it but I do. It has enormous flavor and great nose. This cracked grain bread is an easy no-knead wonder that comes from Bob's Red Mill, the folks who make my flour. It's ready to slice in less than two hours and it's wonderful with good European butter or a Red Leicester Cheese. I could go on and on but instead of talking let's do.

Swiss-Style Two Grain Bread

Ingredients:

1/4 cup cracked wheat

1/4 cup cracked rye

Cold water

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

2 cups warm water

4 tablespoons dry milk powder

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

4-1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 2 pound bread pan. Set aside.

2) Place cracked wheat and cracked rye in a small saucepan. Cover grains with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat; simmer for 2 minutes. Drain and cool to luke warm.

3) Place 2/3 cup of warm water in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast over water and let stand for 15 minutes. Stir in remaining 1-1/3 cup warm water, milk powder, salt and cracked grains. Gradually mix in whole wheat flour to make a very moist dough. Knead in bowl until it begins to change texture.

4) Transfer dough to prepared pan, cover and let rise in a warm area for about 30 minutes, or until dough rises to about 1/2-inch above top of pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: one 2-pound loaf.

I'm sending this recipe to Rachael at Tangerine's Kitchen for the May BBD multi grain bread challenge. BBD is a popular food-blog event that was started by Zorra of Kochtopf.

I'm also plan to send it on to Susan at Wild Yeast for her Yeast Spotting event.