Essene Bread

1. Stage

Several days before you hope to eat this bread: rinse wheat berries in cool water. Drain and submerge wheat berries with cool water in a large bowl. Cover the bowl with a plate or cloth, and allow wheat berries to soak at normal room temperature overnight or for about 12 hours so they soak up a considerable amount of water.

2. Stage

Drain wheat berries in a colander; cover the colander with a plate to prevent wheat berries from drying out and set it in a place away from any sunlight or light. Rinse berries about 3 times a day, and they will soon begin to sprout. In a couple of days the sprouts will reach their optimum length of about l/4 inch. Growth depends on moisture and temperature so be patient.

3. Stage

Grind sprouted wheat berries in a food mill or in a food processor.

4. Stage

After grinding, dump the mushed up grain onto a clean work surface. Squeeze and knead the grain for about 10 minutes, then form into 2 small round, hearth-style loaves with your hands. Sprinkle an insulated cookie sheet with a little bran or cornmeal, and put the loaves on it.

5. Stage

Preheating the oven is not necessary. Cover the loaves with cloches, and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Then turn the oven down to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and bake for approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes more. Allow the breads to cool thoroughly on cooling racks for several hours, and then, because of the high moisture content, store in the refrigerator. For best results, slice this bread thinly, or break with hands.