Old-Fashioned Porridge and Molasses Bread

Name: Old-Fashioned Porridge and Molasses Bread
Total time: 235
Yield: 48
Ingredients: 3 cups boiling water; 2 cups rolled oats; ¼ cup shortening; 2 teaspoons white sugar; 1 cup warm water (100 degrees F (38 degrees C)); 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast; ⅔ cup molasses; 4 teaspoons salt; 8 ½ cups all-purpose flour, or as needed

Recipe by manella from allrecipes.com

4 Hr. 55 Mins.

Ingredients

48 servings

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3 cups boiling water
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2 cups rolled oats
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¼ cup shortening
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2 teaspoons white sugar
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1 cup warm water (100 degrees F (38 degrees C))

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2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
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⅔ cup molasses
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4 teaspoons salt
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8 ½ cups all-purpose flour, or as needed

Instructions

Pour boiling water over oats and shortening in a bowl. Stir until shortening melts; let stand for 20 minutes, giving it a stir once in a while.
Meanwhile, dissolve sugar in lukewarm water. Add yeast and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir briskly with a fork.
Stir yeast mixture into the partially cooled oat mixture with molasses and salt. Let cool to lukewarm, 5 to 10 minutes. Beat in 2 1/2 cups of flour, gradually adding remaining flour as needed.
Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead, 8 to 10 minutes. Shape into a smooth ball and place in a greased bowl, rolling the dough so the top is greased. Cover and let double in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
Punch dough down and shape into 4 loaves. Place into greased 8 1/2x4 1/2-inch bread pans. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven until tops are golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.