Simple Honey Wheat Bread

I just made 2 batches of Homemade Freezer Jam, so what better to go with it than hot homemade wheat bread? This bread uses some whole wheat flour, but is still very soft. I really like the flavor of this bread! It takes about 3 hours, start to finish. Recipe from allrecipes.com

STEP #1:

3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/ 45 degrees C)

2 (.25 oz. packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 tsp. total) 

1/3 cup honey

5 cups bread flour

1.  In a stand mixer, mix warm water, yeast and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups bread flour and stir to combine. Let sit for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.

STEP #2:

3 Tbs. butter, melted

1/3 cup honey

1 Tbs. salt

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2.  Mix in 3 Tbs. melted butter, 1/3 cup honey and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Continue to add wheat flour by 1/2 cups until dough is just starting to pull away from the side of the bowl, yet still a little sticky. Place in a large greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough (so it doesn't get hard on the top). Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.

3.  Punch down and divide into 3 loaves. Place in 3 greased 9 x 5" loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by 1 inch.

4.  Bake at 350 degrees F. (175 degrees C) for 25-30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of the loaves with melted butter to prevent the tops from going hard. Cool completely.

Yield: 3 loaves (12 slices each loaf)

Nutritional info: Per slice: 143 calories, 25 gms. carbohydrate, 2.2 gms. fat., 1.7 gms. dietary fiber