Simple Whole Wheat Bread

I'm sorry - I don't know what all the guidelines are for our recipes, so forgive me if this one doesn't qualify. But Ellie and I made this bread yesterday and everyone loved it! And it was a lot easier than most of the bread recipes I found. It yields 3 loaves.

:: 3 C. warm water (110 degrees)
:: 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
:: 1/3 C. honey
:: 5 C. unbleached bread flour
:: 3 T. butter, melted
:: 1/3 C. honey
:: 1 T. salt
:: 3 1/2 C. whole wheat flour
:: 2 T. butter, melted

1. In large bowl, mix warm water, yeast and 1/3 C. honey. Add 5 C. bread flour. Stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes or until big and bubbly. (Ellie and I had fun at the end watching it rise. She said it was creepy!)

2. Mix in 3 T. melted butter, 1/3 C. honey, and salt. Stir in 2 C. whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch (both kids enjoyed kneading/punching the bread!). This may take an additional 2 - 4 C. wheat flour. Place in greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place (like top of already preheated oven) until doubled.

3. Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. Place in greased 9x5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch. (We did 2 loaves on baking sheet. Not pretty but it worked.)

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-40 minutes. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 T. melted butter to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.

Source: www.allrecipes.com