Categories: Breads, Sourdough, Family 
      Yield: 1 loaf 
  
      1 c  Starter 
  1 1/2 c  Water 
    1/2 c  Oil 
    1/2 c  Sugar 
     12    Apricots (dried), diced 
    1/4 c  Walnuts, coarsely chopped 
      2 c  Whole wheat flour 
      4 c  Bread flour, bromated 
      1 t  Salt 
  
  Feed starter 1/2 C sugar, 1 C water and 1 T instant potato flakes once a 
  week, stirring well. Let mixture sit in uncovered container all day to feed 
  and grow. After 8 - 10 hours, remove 1 cup of starter to bake bread; return 
  remainder of starter to refrigerator in loosely covered container. 
   
  Combine starter, water, oil, sugar and apricots and mix well.  Add walnuts 
  and the whole wheat flour; blend together with a whisk. Add 2 cups of the 
  bread flour and mix again. 
   
  Add the last 2 cups of the bread flour, combined with the salt, and mix 
  again. 
   
  The dough will be sticky and a little stiff.  Put the dough in a greased 
  (or sprayed with Pam) bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise until 
  doubled in bulk. 
   
  Punch down and divide into three equal pieces.  Put each piece into a 
  greased loaf pan and let rise until they reach the tops of the pans. Bake 
  at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until browned and pulling away from the 
  sides of the pans. 
   
  Cathe's notes: 
   
  *  Was originally Dot Howell's recipe.  You can substitute white corn syrup 
  for part or all of the oil; the bread might cook more quickly and brown too 
  soon if not watched carefully.  Can also substitute 1/4 C oatmeal for 1/4 C 
  flour. 
   
  *  Daddy speeds up the process; he feeds the starter and then puts it into 
  a hot water bath for about an hour. While the starter sits in its bath, he 
  mixes his ingredients for the bread. He uses 1 cup of the starter and lets 
  the remainder sit outside for several hours. He makes his dough and puts it 
  in a hot water bath to rise. When he punches it down, he puts the pans over 
  a hot water bath to rise. He accomplishes the entire process in one day 
  instead of two days.