Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup shortening
1 tablespoon salt
2 packages regular or quick dry yeast
2 1/4 cups very warm water (120-130 degrees)
3 to 4 cups bread flour
Butter - melted - 1-2 tablespoons for step 19 and 1-2 tablespoons for step 23
Instructions:
1. Mix whole wheat flour, honey, shortening, salt, and yeast in large bowl.
2. Add warm water.
2. Add warm water.
3. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute - scraping bowl as necessary.
4. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
5. Using a plastic spatula, stir in bread flour - 1 cup at a time. This will make dough easy to handle.
6. Place dough on lightly floured surface.
7. Knead about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy.
8. Place dough in large bowl greased with shortening, turning dough to grease all sides.
9. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 40 to 60 minutes or until double.
10. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
11. Grease bottoms and sides of 2 loaf pans (8.5 x 4.5 or 9 x 5)
12. Gently push dough with fist to deflate.
13. Divide dough in half.
14. Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into 18 x 9 inch rectangle on lightly floured surface.
15. Roll dough tightly, beginning at 9 inch side. Press thumbs to seal after each turn.
16. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal.
17. Press each end with side of hand and fold the ends of the loaves over the top to seal the ends.
18. Place seam side down in pan.
19. Brush loaves lightly with butter.
20. Cover loosely with plastic wrap.
21. Let rise in warm place for 35-50 minutes.
22. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes - loaves should be deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.
23. Brush top of loaves with more butter.
24. Let cool.
25. Enjoy!!!
Mark's Notes -
I put this in the oven for 45 minutes, and that was almost too long. It didn't burn, but it was a little darker than I wanted. Next time, I'll go with the 40 minutes.
Mark's Story -
It had been forever since I had baked homemade bread. I came across this recipe in the Betty Crocker Cookbook. Lately, I've been baking lots of stuff with honey.
This recipe turned out really well. Abby loved it. Trisha's grandparents came up to visit and they loved it.
