Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I have spent the last year trying to sneak whole wheat into the kids' diets.  This bread tops them all!  My sister gladly shared it with me and now I share it with you.  Seriously, the best!  No sugar!  I love the bit of white flour added to the recipe to give your bread a little more softness.

Ingredients:
5 1/2 cups hot tap water
2/3 cup oil
2 scant TBSP yeast
2/3 cup honey
2 TBSP salt, slightly rounded
11-12 cups whole wheat flour
4 cups white flour

Directions:
Mix water, oil, and yeast in your Bosch (or large Kitchen Aid). Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy. Then add honey, salt, 8 cups of wheat flour and 4 cups of white flour.  Mix on low or speed 1 for 4-5 minutes.  Add remaining 3-4 cups of wheat flour until dough is a little sticky, but spongy, and cleans itself from the bowl. Continue to knead in the mixer on speed 2 for 5 minutes, or speed 1 for 10 minutes.

During this time, grease four large bread pans or five medium bread pans. Oil hands and the counter. Remove dough from bowl and divide into loaf sizes. Pound or knead dough, drawing in four sides to the center, shaping a loaf. Place folded side into the bottom of the loaf pan. Press with fist or palm, making dough even in the pan. 

Raise double until bread is just over the top of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees, 25 minutes for a smaller loaf, and 32 minutes for a large loaf. When bread is done, remove promptly from pans. Rub a cube of butter across the top of the bread to moisten and keep soft.

We put extra loaves in bags and store in the freezer for future use.