Plum Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

By Foodiewife

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted dried plums, coarsely chopped
• 3 cups all-purpose flour + flour for kneading
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 4-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon honey, divided use
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Details

Adapted from oneperfectbite.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

1) Toss plums with 1 tablespoon flour. Set aside. Combine 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, yeast and salt in bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add sweet potatoes, milk, 1/4 cup honey and oil. Beat with a paddle attachment until smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved 1-1/2 cups flour and mix to form a soft dough.
2) Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Knead plums into dough. Place dough into a bowl coated with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Turn to coat top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
3) Punch down and turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 3 potions. Roll each portion into a rope about 15-inches long. Braid ropes, pinching ends to seal. Place braid on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 30 minutes.
4) Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake bread for 40 minutes, or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Remove pan from oven and place on a cooling rack. Mix reserved 1 tablespoon honey with orange juice and brush over exposed surfaces of bread. Yield: 1 large loaf.