Whole Wheat Bread

Here's a good recipe for an easy and delicious whole wheat bread (adapted slightly from The Frugal Girl).

What you'll need:

2 1/3 cup warm water
4 tbsp honey
4 tbsp butter, melted
9 tsp yeast
2 tsp salt
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading

Combine 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a mixer. Add the warm water, honey, and melted butter. Mix on low speed until the ingredients are combined, then beat on medium speed for 3-5 minutes.

Add in the remaining whole wheat and all-purpose flour. Mix on medium speed until a soft ball is formed.

Knead the dough on a flour surface for 5 minutes or until smooth. Add flour as kneaded (i.e., if the dough is really stick, add a little bit of extra flour to your countertop and work it into the dough).

Put the dough in a oiled bowl, cover with a wet tea towel, and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes. I placed my bowl on top of the stove. I find it's always pretty warm there.

Now, the dough should have doubled in size. Punch down the dough. Divide in half. Roll into two thick rectangles, then starting at the short end, roll up the dough and place each roll into a 9 x 5 inch greased bread pan.

Cover the two loaves with a wet tea towel and let rise for another 30 minutes (or until doubled) in a warm place.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Once the two loaves are finished rising, bake for approximately 30 minutes. A trick to knowing when you're bread is done is to tap on it. If it sounds hollow, then it's ready to come out of the oven. Let cool on a wire rack before serving —that is, if you can wait. I couldn't. I had two thick slices —one with butter and the other with almond butter.

ps. I LOVE the smell of fresh bread. LOVE it.