Homemade Wholegrain healthy BREAD recipe? Cracker recipe?

[kfillmore]

I think (?!) I want to start making my own bread because I want to buy less/no processed food. Anyone have a good bread recipe. I do not have a bread maker!

How about crackers?

thanks!!

[ollyoxenfree]

If you are new to breadmaking, I recommend reading a little to help you out at first. The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book has wonderful step-by-step instructions, lots of helpful tips and a good basic wholegrain recipe. I think the Tassajara Bread Book has a better recipe, but the explanations aren't quite as helpful to the inexperienced baker. They have both been around for a long time, so chances are that if you have a library nearby, it will have one or both. 

I haven't made crackers from scratch but I find pita crisps are quick and easy. I made some the other night with some slightly stale pita that we had hanging around. Very nice with my homemade hummus. 

Pita crisps: 

Use the thinner, pocket pitas. Split in half (to separate the pocket layers). Divide into smaller wedges. I just tear  the pita randomly, but you can cut them into neat triangles if you prefer. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with a little sea salt (if you use it). I also sprinkle with za'atar (a blend of thyme, sesame seeds and other spices).  Bake at 375F for about 6 minutes, until crisp. 

There are a few cracker recipes at 101cookbooks.com, a cooking blog. I like a lot of the recipes on that site, so I think the cracker recipes would be worth trying.