Oatmeal Raisin Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups warm water
1 Tbsp yeast
1 1/3 rolled oats
1/3 cup molasses
Combine above ingredients and let sit until bubbly—about 5-10 minutes, then add:
2 Tbsp oil or melted butter
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour
1 cup raisins

Let rise 30 minutes, then add enough flour to make dough stiff enough to knead. Knead 5 minutes. Let rise until doubled, then divide in half and put in long pans and let rise again. Sprinkle tops with water and then sprinkle oatmeal on top. Bake in 375° oven 40-50 minutes.

Variations: makes excellent rolls. Divide dough into 24 balls; roll balls in oatmeal and place ½ inch apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake in 375° oven 20 minutes or until done. Excellent nut bread can be made by adding 1 cup chopped nuts to recipe and forming 2 balls of the dough and baking in casserole dish or pie plate.