The smell of home made bread...

For the last few months Matt and I have been making bread. We use his Mom's recipe, which we love. It's so good and the best part is... it's easy! Especially right out of the oven! yum.... Warm bread with butter & home made frozen strawberry jam! One batch makes 4 loaves and normally lasts us a week. My bread pans are my Grandma's, that's what I wanted when she died. We first bought a wheat grinder, then some wheat and we had to get a Bosch since there is no other way to make bread (easy that is) with out one. Now I need to get creative and make something other than Honey Whole Wheat Bread and Banana Bread. :-)

Honey Wheat Bread

5 1/2 c. hot water

2/3 c. oil

2/3 c. honey

2 Tbs. salt

3 Tbs. Instant yeast

11-14 c. whole-wheat flour

-Optional -

The bread turns out a little less crummy if these are added...

2 Tbs Vital Wheat Gluten

2 Tbs Dough Enhancer

Mix first 4 ingredients. Add 1 or 2 cups of flour before adding the yeast, in case the water is to hot - so it doesn't kill the yeast. Add flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of mixing bowl. It is better to have dough a little sticky than too dry. Turn to speed 2 and mix for 10 - 15 min. I grease the pans with Crisco while the dough is mixing. Oil the counter top, divide dough, shape into loaves and put in pans . Cover with a dish towel and let rise on counter for 30 min or until doubled in size. Bake at 350 for 30-40 min.