Whole Wheat Bread

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons applesauce
• 2 dates (softened) or 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 cups hot water
• 2-4 tablespoons oil
• 2-4 tablespoons gluten flour (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Pour the hot water over the honey/date and applesauce (the cold applesauce usually cools it down to the right, mediocre temperature). If using the dates be sure to mash them up. Sprinkle the yeasty beasties on top and let sit.

2. 2

   Mix a couple cups of flour with the rest of the ingredients, add yeast mixture, and proceed to add the rest of the flour, a cup at a time.

3. 3

   Knead (or let your Kitchen Aid do all the work).

4. 4

   Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for an hour.

5. 5

   Punch down. Form into two loaves and place in greased loaf pans. Cover in plastic again and let rise for 45 minutes.

6. 6

   Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

7. 7

   Dump out, brush tops with butter (for a softer crust), and let cool on racks.

8. 8

   Or, chop this recipe in half and toss it in your bread machine on "quick".