Romanov Russian Black Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1/3 cup dark corn syrup

• 2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5 cups dark rye flour

Directions

1. 1

   In a medium bowl, stir together the warm water and corn syrup. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

2. 2

   Add 2 1/2 cups of the rye flour to the yeast mixture, and beat until smooth.

3. 3

   Stir in the salt. Set bowl in a warm place, and cover with a cloth or towel.

4. 4

   Let rise for 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Stir in more flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough is stiff. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead in more flour by hand as needed to form a stiff but slightly sticky dough. You may use less or more flour. Form dough into a ball. Clean the mixing bowl, and lightly grease it. Place the dough in the bowl, and cover with a towel. Place in a warm place to rise until doubled. This may take as long as 2 hours.

6. 6

   Turn the risen dough out onto a floured surface, and press out the air bubbles. Roll dough into a loaf, and place into a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.

7. 7

   Turn the loaf so that the seam is on the bottom. Cover the pan with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

8. 8

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove plastic wrap from loaf pan.

9. 9

   Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Bread will not brown very much.