For Chris in NM who asked for Outback SteakHouse's bread,
here is one I took from TopSecretRecipes quite a long time
ago:
Outback Steakhouse Honey Wheat Bushman Bread
by Todd Wilbur
Along with an entree at this popular steakhouse chain, comes
a freshly baked loaf of this dark, sweet bread, served on
it's own cutting board with soft whipped butter. One
distinctive feature of the bread is its color.
How does the bread get so dark? While you may notice the
recipe includes instant coffee and cocoa, these ingredients
will not give it it's deep dark chocolate brown color - not
even close. Usually breads that are this dark --such as
pumpernickel or dark bran muffins -- contain caramel color,
an ingredient often used in the industry to darken foods.
Since your local supermarket will not likely have this
mostly commercial product, we will make the caramel color
from a mixture of three food colorings -- red, yellow and
blue. Just be sure to get the food coloring in the little
droppers so that you can count the drops as you measure.
That's very important to getting the color just right. You
may also opt to keep the color out. The bread will certainly
taste the same, but will look nothing like the real deal. I
suggest using a bread machine for the mixing and kneading,
if you have one.
Dough
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
2 cups bread flour
1 2/3 cups wheat flour
1 tablespoon cocoa
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 pkg.) yeast
Coloring
1/4 cup water
75 drops red food coloring
45 drops blue food coloring
30 drops yellow food coloring
cornmeal for dusting
1. If using a bread machine, add all of the ingredients for
the dough in the exact order listed into the pan of your
machine. Set it on "knead" and when the machine begins to
mix the dough, combine the food coloring with 1/4 cup of
water and drizzle it into the mixture as it combines. After
the dough is created let it rest to rise for an hour or so.
Then remove it from the pan and go to step #3.
2. If you are not using a bread machine, combine the flours,
cocoa, sugar, coffee and salt in large bowl. Make a
depression or "well" in the middle of the dry mixture. Pour
the warm water into this "well," then add the butter, honey
and yeast. Combine the food coloring drops with 1/4 cup of
water and add that to the "well." Slowly mix the ingredients
with a spoon, drawing the dry ingredients into the wet. When
you can handle the dough, begin to combine it by hand,
kneading the dough thoroughly for at least ten minutes,
until it is very smooth and has a consistent color. Set the
dough into a covered bowl in a warm place for an hour, to
allow it to rise.
3. When the dough has risen to about double in size, punch
it down and divide it into 8 even portions (divide dough in
half, divide those halves in half, and then once more). Form
the portions into tubular shaped loaves about 8 inches long
and 2 inches wide. Sprinkle the entire surface of the loaves
with cornmeal and place them on a cookie sheet, or two.
Cover the cookie sheet(s) with plastic wrap and let the
dough rise once more for another hour in a warm location.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Uncover the dough and
bake it for 20-24 minutes in the hot oven. Loaves should
begin to darken slightly on top when done. Serve warm with a
sharp bread knife and butter on the side. If you want
whipped butter, like you get at the restaurant, just use an
electric mixer on high speed to whip some butter until it's
fluffy. Makes 8 small loaves
Tidbits: It is normal for this dough to be a bit tacky and
to seem somewhat thin. Just be sure to add plenty of flour
to your hands and work surface when working with the dough
to prevent sticking. If you are able to find caramel color,
you can use that rather than the food coloring formula
described in the recipe. Just measure 1 tablespoon of
caramel color into the dough mixture where the recipe uses
food coloring and water.
Betty in MS
This recipe was also sent in by Joan in MA
http://www.nancyskitchen.com