How many of you have a grain mill and mill your own flour? What brand of grain mill do you have, plus is it electric or hand-crank? How often do you bake bread? And, what else do you make from milling your grain that saves you money?

I know that buying bulk grains, especially wheat, can save all sorts of money. And, one big plus is that the grain doesn't lose it's nutrients like flour that you buy in the store. I've really been wanting to get one soon, because so many people really like theirs and it just makes sense. Especially when whole grain bread was $4 at the store this week!!

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Frugal is being wise with your money and resources and cheap is forcing everyone else to.

I have a Nutrimill I bought last year from Pleasant Hill Grain. It was expensive, but mills flour nearly as fine as store-bought flour. For about 20 years before that I had a Kitchen Aid mill that attached to the front of my mixer. That one was easier and more convenient to use, but it was slower and didn't mill as finely.

I make nearly all our bread (I have three loaves rising as I type) and it is pretty healthful stuff! This batch is 30% white, 55% whole wheat, and the other 15% a combination of rolled oats, ground flaxseed, and milled split green peas, and soy protein powder. There are six of us at home and I bake a batch of bread once or twice a week.

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Katie--mom to ds--21, dd--18, ds--16, dd + dd--6, dd--4

Would you share your bread recipe? I've been trying to get the right mix of white/whole wheat/other. I've tried several recipes, but haven't found the right combo to satisfy everyone in this house yet. So I'm always looking to try something new.

I play around with the exact flour/grain ingredients every time and no two batches are the same, but here is the general recipe:

3 3/8 c. water (~115 degrees F)
6 T. oil
6 T. sugar
3 pkg. yeast (I live at very high altitude, so I can use 1 tsp=1 pkg instead of the recommended 2 1/4 tsp=1 pkg)
3 cups white bread flour

Mix together and let sit for 10-20 minutes to make a sponge. This is not necessary, but some people think it gives the final product a yeastier flavor.

7 cups whole wheat flour

Mix. I use a big 6 qt. Kitchen Aid mixer and knead for 10-12 minutes. If you're doing it by hand, I'd knead for closer to 15 minutes as it takes more to develop the gluten in whole wheat.

When the dough is smooth and elastic (not rough), cover and let it rise until it doubles (30-60 minutes, depending on the temperature in your kitchen).

Squash it all down, then grease your pans while the dough rests. If you don't, the dough will be really elastic and hard to roll out.

Divide in thirds and roll out each third, then tightly roll each piece up into a log. Put the dough into each pan, then cover with plastic wrap (spray with Pam to keep the wrap from sticking to the dough) and let rise again. When it is nearly as big as you want it, preheat the oven to 375 F, then bake for 30-40 minutes. It will rise some more in the oven. The tops should be medium to dark brown.

In place of the some of whole wheat flour, you can use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the fun stuff.

Bran
Rolled oats
Ground flaxseed
Protein powder
Cracked wheat
Milled beans (flour) not more than about 1/3 cup or the dough tastes "green" although I can never taste it in the final product
Wheat germ
Sunflower seeds
Chopped nuts

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Katie--mom to ds--21, dd--18, ds--16, dd + dd--6, dd--4

Okay, I have a somewhat silly question. I've only tried to make bread once with the grain mill and it turned out horribly b/c for some reason I just can't get all the grains straight. Pregnancy brain doesn't help. So, 3 cups of white bread flour...is this flour you mill? If so, what kind of grain is that? 7 cups of whole wheat flour...I'm guessing this is hard wheat? I don't know why I get so confused about this.

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Jenny, wife to Brad, mommy to two crazy little kids with one on the way!

I have a Nutrimill which I use about twice a week, I also have an attachment for my Kitchenaid mixer and a cast iron hand cranked model which I have never used.

Thanks for the recipe. I'll give it a try.

Vicki

Where do you buy the bulk grain?

I have a "Kitchen Mill" bought from the Urban Homemaker. I've had it since October 2007 and love using it. I buy my grains in bulk from BreadBeckers.com. I joined a co-op group which saves TONS of money in shipping. I couldn't afford to do it if I had to have my grains shipped directly to me.

I make 4 loaves of hard red wheat bread usually twice a month. I also use it to make homemade pancakes, waffles, muffins, french bread, focaccia, sweet breads & cinnamon rolls. I have not conquered it yet for biscuits. I still buy the White Lilly unbleached self-rising flour for them b/c I don't like baking powder biscuits and the biscuits just seemed too "heavy" with the freshly milled flour. I need to experiment with rye, millet, spelt and the beans. I have the grains to do it but haven't branched out enough yet. I would love to keep up conversations about it, b/c I don't hardly know anyone that does this! So good to meet y'all!

BTW, Jenny, don't feel bad, it's easy to get them all confused. I know how pregnancy brain is b/c I breastfed both of my children for one year each and I think they took all of my brain cells!!

Anyway, the hard red wheat is the most "rich" of all, the most wheat taste, texture, darkest ,etc. (my personal fav.) Can be used in yeast or non-yeast recipes.
hard white wheat is just lighter is texture, flavor and color and can be used in yeast or non-yeast recipes.
The soft white cannot be used in yeast breads. I use it for pancakes and waffles. I haven't gotten it just right to use in cookies yet.

Sorry for such a long post.... Have a great night!

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God bless you and your day!
Just clay,
Rosemary
ray:

This is good info, thanks! Most grain mills I've seen recommended are of the $600-800 variety, and I honestly don't want to spend that much.

Also, I think it wouldn't be an advantage financially unless you are buying grains in bulk. Right now I can get wheat berries for $1.00/lb, but whole wheat flour is 0.63/lb.

But it would definitely be healthier. I have looked into buying grains in bulk, but the shipping is a killer and we aren't really near any shipping routes for the major companies.