Alan Thicke's Irish Freckle Bread

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 1/2 cups white flour (may need more)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 packages fast rise yeast
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup cooked mashed potatoes
• 1 cup chopped dates

Directions

1. 1

   In a large bowl, combine together 1 cup of the whole-wheat flour, 1 cup of the white flour, the sugar, the undissolved yeast and the salt.

2. 2

   Heat butter and water together until very warm (125F to 130F); gradually stir the warm liquids into the dry ingredients.

3. 3

   Then stir in eggs, mashed potatoes, dates and the additional flours to make a soft dough; add a few more tbsp of the white flour if need be.

4. 4

   Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.

5. 5

   Cover and let rest on a floured surface for 10 minutes.

6. 6

   Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; shape into 4 slender loaves-- about 8-1/2 inches long.

7. 7

   Set 2 loaves side-by-side in each of 2 well-greased 8-1/2-by-4-1/2-inch loaf pans.

8. 8

   Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

9. 9

   Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

10. 10

    Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until done.

11. 11

    Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.