Whole Wheat Bread - Amy's Favorite

By 1For_Him

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons fast rising yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 cups warm water
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup dry milk
• 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 -4 cups whole wheat flour

Preparation

Step 1

The Sponge: In your bread mixing bowl put the yeast, 3/4 cup water, and the cup of whole wheat flour, mix until combined then cover with plastic wrap and a towel and let it sit for 45 minutes to an hour in a warm place. It should be bubbly.

The Dough: Add the 2 cups water, 2 cups whole wheat flour, dry milk, wheat gluten, salt, sugar and oil. Mix until combined.

Start to add your remaining flour. Add 1/2 cup at a time. 2 cups might be enough but it could go up to 4 cups. Fully incorporate the flour you add before adding more. Whole wheat bread will still be a little sticky and a little stiff, carefully judge when you think you have enough. Once you make bread enough you'll know when it's enough flour. You can always add more flour when you're kneading.

Kneading: By hand, 20 to 30 minutes. In a mixer, 10 minutes.

Rising: Once your dough is kneaded you are going to coat it all over in a little oil and stick it in a bowl that will let it rise at least one and a half times its size. Now you're going to cover it with plastic wrap and a towel, put it in a warm place and let it rise for 45 minutes to an hour. It should have risen over double its size.

During this rising time spray or butter two bread pans.

Shaping, Last Rise, and Baking: When your dough is ready dump it out and push the bubbles out of it. Divide it. Flatten each piece out to a rectangle about the size of the pan then roll it up tight and pinch the seams together tucking the ends inches Turn over and put in the pan seam side down.

Put the loaves in a warm place and cover with a towel, let them rise from 30 minutes to an hour. You want your loaves to be at least 2 inches over the top of the pan, nice and high, they won't rise anymore in the oven. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes then lower the heat to 350 and cook for another 15 minutes. They will be a deep brown. I sprayed some water on the loaves when they were baking at 5 mins, 15 mins and 25 mins - this made the crust EXACTLY like store bought bread.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/100-whole-wheat-bread-non-dense-heavy-white-bread-texture-139353#ixzz1DkxIwr1I


Take them out and remove them from their pans and cool on a cooling rack.