Cracked Wheat Bread

• 1 cup hot milk
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• ¼ cup dark or light molasses
• 1 cup Cracked Wheat, soaked in 1 cup cold water overnight
• 1½ pkg. dry yeast or 1½ Tbsp. bottled yeast
• ½ cup lukewarm water
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 6½ cups all purpose flour
• 4 Tbsp. shortening or margarine

Pour hot milk into large bowl over salt and molasses. Add soaked wheat to milk mixture. Add yeast to warm water with sugar; let rise a little then add to mixture in bowl. Add half of the flour, beat well about 2 minutes. Add remaining flour and mix until all the flour is worked in. Begin kneading by adding shortening a little at a time; knead for 10-15 minutes or until shortening is used up. Let rise until double in bulk; punch down and shape into loaves or buns of your choice. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Yield: 3 round loaves, approximately 1½ lbs. each.