Wednesday Wheats

Sniff Sniff...Is that fresh bread you smell??  Yes, it is!!!!!  Who doesn't love the smell of freshly baked bread. Whats even better than smelling it?  EATING IT!!  Bread finds us in many ways--our sandwiches, our morning toast, that amazing custard bread pudding that you dream of and even as our crispy Mac n' Cheese topping.  Maybe what makes us love and appreciate good quality bread is the level of commitment it takes to get those amazing results.  I, like most home chefs, appreciate a challenge as much as the next.  However, we all have those moments "I want bread.  But just worked a long day at work! The last thing I want to do is bake.  Grocery store here I come!!!!"  We settle for store bought for the convenience.  But why can't we indulge in that fresh-right from the oven-bread and avoid spending long, my arms are so sore from kneading, hours in the kitchen??  WE CAN HAVE IT ALL!!  There are many amazing recipes out there to allow you that luxury.  

Honey Wheat Bread

Yeast, water and honey

Flour (yes, I know "Captain Obvious!")

Use a mixer if you have one!  (Thanks to my boyfriend for buying me one! "Thanks, honey!!")

Mix until well incorporated.  The dough will have a sticky consistency.

I used 1 cake pan to make one ridiculously large loaf of bread. But you can split it up between 2 pans.

Voila!! Fresh honey wheat bread

Honey Wheat Bread

3 cups warm water, 110 - 120 degrees F
2 packets instant dry yeast
1/4 cup honey
6 cups unbleached white whole wheat flour 
2 teaspoons salt

1. Grease two 8 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch loaf pans
2. Combine warm water, yeast and honey. Stir to dissolve yeast.
3. In a large bowl, mix together flours and salt. Pour liquid into dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly -- dough will be sticky. 
4. Divide dough equally between pans. Let stand in a warm spot for 20 minutes until slightly risen.
5. Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 40 minutes. The bottom of the loaves will sound hollow when tapped.
6. Turn out of pans and cool on a rack.