MUSHROOM OAT BRAN BREAD

I have been trying to stop eating normal bread. I have high cholesterol and have been told oat bran is excellent to lower it. I had used this oat bran recipe many times in the past and I am now trying to use the same basic recipe but with different ingredients. Instead of herbs and sundried tomatoes, I have used mushrooms, bacon and zucchini. You can make it vegetarian by omitting the bacon. It is nice to serve it warm, but it doesn't toast well in a toaster. If you want to toast it a bit, put it under the grill. I usually put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then add some fresh cheese on top or any other thing I fancy.  

INGREDIENTS

10 Tbsp oat bran
5 Tbsp wheat bran
3 Tbsp chia seeds
3 Tbsp flaxseed meal
6 Tbsp ricotta
2 sachets dry yeast (14g)
1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
3 eggs
10g dried porcini mushrooms (soaked in 1 cup of hot water)
225g fresh mushrooms, sliced
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/2 bunch parsley, chopped
175g fat free bacon, thinly sliced
1/2 cup spring onions, finely chopped
1 cup of the porcini soaking water
1 zucchini finely grated (optional)
olive oil for frying & greasing

METHOD:
Soak the porcini mushrooms with warm water for 20 minutes. 

Drain and reserve the liquid.
Preheat oven to 180C.
Squeeze the liquid from the porcini and chop finely.
Sautee the bacon and when crunchy, add the fresh mushrooms and cook until all liquid has evaporated. 

Add the porcini, garlic and parsley to the mixture. 

Cook for about 2 minutes and cool.

Separate the egg yolks from the whites.
In a big bowl, mix together the oat and wheat bran, the yeast, the yolks and the porcini water. Mix well.

Add the ricotta, salt & pepper, the chia, flaxseed meal, spring onions, mushroom mixture and the zucchini, if using to the bowl. Mix well.

Beat the egg whites until soft peak form. Fold into the bread mixture.

Pour the mixture into a loaf tin, previously greased with a bit of oil and lined with baking paper.

Cook in the oven for about 45-60 minutes.

Let it cool in the tin for a while. 

Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool totally or serve warm if you prefer.