Old-Fashioned Whole Wheat Bread

Photo: flickr user redjar

Ingredients

3 cups warm water

2 5/8 ounces cake yeast

8 cups whole wheat flour (Robin Hood Stone Ground)

1/2 cup honey

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup oil

Preparation

Have all ingredients at room temperature except water. Yield: 2 loaves.

In large bowl, combine water and yeast. Add 3 cups flour. Mix well, cover, and let stand for 15 minutes. Add honey, salt and oil; mix well. Gradually add 3-4 more cups flour. Mix thoroughly until soft dough forms which leaves the sides of bowl. On floured board knead and stretch thoroughly with floured hands for 5-10 minutes. "DON'T UNDER KNEAD".

Place in a large well greased bowl; turn to grease all sides and let rise until nearly doubled. Punch down, divide into 2 parts and form loaves. Place in lightly greased pans. Cover with damp towel and set in warm place to rise for one hour or until double. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Immediately after putting bread in oven, return heat to 375 degrees. Bake 35-45 minutes or until done.