Whole Wheat Bread

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 3 tablespoons melted butter, coconut oil or olive oil
• 2 tablespoons honey, molasses or maple syrup
• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten
• 2 tablespoons flax seed meal, 10 grain cereal, wheat germ, etc. (optional and very good)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

Directions

1. 1

   (Hand Method) Combine all of the ingredients, and mix them till you have a shaggy dough. The dough will seem wet, but remember: wetter is better. Let the dough rest, covered, for 20 minutes, then knead till smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Allow the dough to rise, covered, for 1 to 2 hours, or until it’s puffy and nearly doubled in bulk.

2. 2

   (Mixer Method) In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all ingredients and mix them till you have a shaggy dough. The dough will seem wet, but remember: wetter is better. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes, then knead by machine until fairly smooth, about 10 minutes. Allow dough to rise, covered, for 1 to 2 hours, or until it’s puffy and nearly doubled in bulk.

3. 3

   (Bread Machine Method) Place all ingredients in bread machine pan and set to dough cycle.

4. 4

   After the dough has risen, gently deflate the dough, shape it into a log, and place it in a lightly greased large (9×5 inch) bread pan or two small bread pans. Cover the pan with a towel*(see note below) or lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow it to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes-1 hour, till it’s crowned about 2 inches over the rim of the pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F about halfway through the rising time.

5. 5

   Bake the bread in a preheated 350°F oven for 45 minutes or until it turns a deep brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

6. 6

   Yield: 1.