Favorite Whole Wheat Bread

last week my sweet friend kalisa had the kids and i over for lunch.  we were lucky enough to get there in time to enjoy a slice (okay, slices) of her homemade wheat bread fresh from the oven.  naturally, i requested a copy of the recipe and she was kind enough to share it with me.  she won't take credit for it though (she should), she just followed the instructions that came with her fancy bosch bread mixer (i covet).

now, i don't have a fancy bread mixer and i only own two bread pans so i had to 1/2 the recipe and knead the dough for 10 minutes by hand. it's okay though, it was well worth the effort and i am certain that i've found the recipe i'll be making on a weekly basis for my family.  i've tried three others already like this one, this one and this one.  it seems that in this case, four times is a charm.  this one is the keeper.

{freeze loaves in bread bags.  thaw overnight in fridge. store in fridge}

Whole Wheat Bread
(makes four large loaves - again, i made two 1/2 batches for four loaves.  the kitchen aid could not have handled any more)

7 cups whole wheat flour (+5 see below)
2/3 cup vital wheat gluten
2.5 Tbsp instant yeast
5 cups water (110 - 115 degrees {thing baby bottle warm})
2 Tbsp salt
2/3 cup oil (i used canola)
2/3 cup honey
3 Tbsp dough enhancer (purchased from this fun little store)
5 cups whole wheat flour

mix together first three ingredients in mixer with dough hook.  add water all at once and mix on speed 1 for one minute.  cover & let rest for 10 minutes (mixture will start to rise).  add salt, oil, honey & dough enhancer.  turn mixer on to speed 1 & add flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough starts to pull away from sides & bottom.  turn mixer up to speed 3 & mix for 10 minutes (bosch) OR, knead for by hand for 10 minutes on lightly floured surface.  dough should be soft & sticky.

preheat oven to 200 degrees.  divide & shape dough into loaves.  place loaves into oiled bread pan (i used spray oil).  push down around edges of pan to form a mound on top.  let dough rise in the warm oven for 30 minutes or until dough reaches over the top of the pan.  turn oven up to 350 degrees & bake for 25 minutes or until bread reaches internal temperature of 180 degrees.  remove from pan & cool on racks.

each loaf makes approximately 18 to 20 - 1/4" sandwich slices.  i used large loaf pans.  nutritional info is per slice.

Nutrition Facts Favorite Recipe Whole Wheat Bread Serving Size: 1 serving Amount Per Serving Calories 100 Total Fat 2.3g       Saturated Fat 0.1g       Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 184mg Carbohydrate 17.4g       Dietary Fiber 2.7g       Sugars 2.7g Protein 3.5g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 6% Calcium    0% Iron 4%