Easy Wheat Bread

I'm fervently camping Hulu this morning, as the weather caused me to miss the last five minutes of Lost last night... so I figured, while I'm here, I may as well post something.

This is currently my favorite bread to make.  It is the most like traditional store bought wheat bread that I've found so far.  Wheat is a pretty loose term here, as the majority of the flour used is white flour.  But it is a hit with the rest of the family, and so easy. 

Wheat Bread  - originally found here.

Makes 3 loaves

1) 4 1/2 tsp yeast (2 pkgs)   2 C Warm Water
2) 4 Tbsp Sugar,  4 tsp salt,  2 C White Flour
3) 1/2 C Hot water,  1/2 C Oil
4) 2 C Whole Wheat Flour,  3 C White Flour

- (1) Soften yeast in warm water.  Add group 2.  Stir until smooth.  Let stand one hour.  Mix group 3 until lukewarm.  Pour into mixture.  Add group 4, mix until smooth and no longer sticky.  Let rise until double (about 45 minutes.)  Form into loaves and rise as before (or until as high as you want it.)

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.


Notes:  I use Thesco flour for the white flour and Bronze Chief for the wheat flour.  I get both from the store that hosts the online cookbook where I got the recipe.  The prep time is long - but there is no kneading, and most of the time is spent rising - so it really is very easy.  I don't have enough loaf pans, so the third loaf I form on a cookie sheet and bake it that way - it turns out just fine.  The pictures above of the final product are actually probably the darkest I've made them - usually they end up lighter than that.

Enjoy!  I'm off to check Hulu again.