whole wheat bread

Recently another blogger posted her recipe for whole wheat bread and I gave it a try.  I am kind of a novice baker and I thought this recipe was pretty uncomplicated.  It didn't require a lot of time to raise.  I mixed it up in the stand mixer and let the dough hook do all the kneading.  It makes two loaves.  I thought that it had great flavor and texture.  And it is great toasted.

Whole wheat bread

2 3/4 cups hot water

4 Tbsp oil

4 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp salt

6 cups whole wheat flour, divided

2 tbsp active dry yeast

Mix the hot water, oil, honey and salt in the bowl of the stand mixer.  Add 2 cups of the flour and mix.  Then add the yeast and mix again.  Lastly add the remaining flour and knead with the dough hook until all the flour is incorporated and you have a slightly tacky dough.  I let the dough rest covered in the bowl of the stand mixer.  I removed the bowl from the stand and took out the dough hook and covered the bowl with a dish towel and placed it under my undercounter lights where it is a little bit warmer for 40 minutes.  After 40 minutes the dough will be larger in size but does not have to be doubled.  Put the bowl back on the mixer and reinsert the dough hook and use the mixer to punch down the dough.  Remove the dough from the mixer and place it on a floured surface.  Divide the dough into two parts and shape each part into a loaf.  Place each loaf into a greased pan and cover with dish towel and let it rise again for another 40 minutes.  While the bread is raising preheat the oven to 350 .   Bake the loaves for 36 minutes.  Remove from pans and cool completely.  Do not refrigerate.

source: adapted from here