Whole Wheat Featherbeds

Total Time: 2 hrs 55 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 20
• 6 ounces russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 12 pieces
• 2 cups water
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Recipe

• 1 place potatoes in large saucepan.
• 2 add water and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.
• 3 reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• 4 drain potato cooking water into measuring cup and add enough warm water to measure 1 1/2 cups.
• 5 mash potato in saucepan.
• 6 cool potato cooking water to 105°f to 115°f.
• 7 transfer 1/4 cup potato water to large bowl.
• 8 add yeast and sugar and stir to dissolve.
• 9 let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• 10 add remaining 1 1/4 cups potato water, mashed potato, whole wheat flour, bread flour, oil and salt to same bowl.
• 11 stir batter until dough forms.
• 12 turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface.
• 13 knead until smooth and elastic, adding more whole wheat flour if dough is very sticky.
• 14 this will take about 10 minutes.
• 15 lightly oil large bowl.
• 16 turn dough in bowl to coat with oil.
• 17 cover with plastic and let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about a hour and 15 minutes.
• 18 lightly grease large baking sheet.
• 19 punch dough down.
• 20 divide into 20 equal pieces.
• 21 roll each piece into a ball.
• 22 roll in additional whole wheat flour.
• 23 arrange on prepared sheet, spacing evenly.
• 24 using a sharp knife, cut 2 slashes into top of each ball.
• 25 cover with towel and let rise in warm area until almost doubled, about 55 minutes.
• 26 preheat oven to 400°f.
• 27 place rolls in oven.
• 28 reduce heat to 375°f.
• 29 bake rolls until light brown on top, about 25 minutes.
• 30 transfer to rack.
• 31 serve warm or at room temperature.
• 32 (can be prepared 1 day ahead. cool completely, wrap tightly and let stand at room temperature or freeze up to 3 days).