Whole grains are the way to go if you are looking for a healthier bread!
I am especially proud of this recipe because I had all of these ingredients that needed to be used and I wanted to challenge myself to make a healthier bread that tasted great. After I made the povitica, I still needed another loaf to give my friend (a mother-to-be) for her baby shower. Often the mother’s needs are forgotten while we celebrate her forthcoming baby. I had two baby showers this past weekend and I wanted to honor both mothers with their favorite food: bread. They both seriously love all forms of bread. Whenever we get together, our restaurant selection is greatly influenced by the quality of their appetizer bread. When I asked for any requests they had, they both requested surprises because they have never met a bread they did not like. I thought that was so sweet.
The povitica is a fairly sweet bread, very chocolaty, however I knew which future mom was getting this multi-grain bread the moment I tasted it. They both had long drives home after the shower and needed sustenance to get them through it.
Since I shared this loaf with a bread-tasting-connoisseur I felt confident that if she ate it everyday this week, only adding butter, then it is not just me who praises it. If you are looking for something with some protein (~3-5g protein depending on where you are in the bowl loaf), and plenty of fiber, then this is a great way to achieve your goals.
Take-Home Tips: Never let a bread recipe keep you from adding honey. If you are feeling honey, which might be a sweet addition to this recipe, then you feel free to add a couple of tablespoons, or maybe even 1/3 cup. I did not put a measurement by the spices, because I feel like you could not possibly overdo it with such a grain-packed recipe. I put about 1/8 cup of a mixture of spices, and would recommend more than that. If you or your recipient does not like coconut, please omit the flakes. Even if the taste is not strong, the texture is still there and they will not enjoy. Instead, switch out for the honey. This is a great sandwich bread, and we made several pastrami/muenster sandwiches. It also freezes well and tastes fine when thawed. Of course if you prefer a traditional loaf pan, you will be able to switch out the bowl for a glass loaf pan with no problem.
Scoring: 8 of 10. The texture is enjoyable without being crunchy. The loaf did keep a solid consistency and does not crumble much. However, when sliced too thin, it did break into pieces when we made sandwiches. Best when warmed, grilled, and with butter or lunch meats.
Food of the Month 