Homemade Wheat Bread

Step 1: Grease a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Step 2: In another large mixing bowl, add the yeast, salt, brown sugar, oil, and hot water. Mix ingredients together for 2 minutes on medium speed.

Step 3: Add 2 cups of bread flour and the powdered milk and mix for another 2 minutes

Step 4: With a wooden spoon, stir in 3 cups of wheat flour. Remove the dough from the bowl out onto a lightly floured counter top or table.

Step 5: Knead the dough for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Step 6: Place the dough into the greased bowl and then flip the dough over so greased side is up. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap; don’t tighten it down, just lay it over the bowl loosely.

Step 7: Let the dough rise until double in a warm place. It can be a sunny window or on a warm clothes dryer that is running. It can take approximately 45-60 minutes; depending on the warmth of the room.

Step 8: Lightly grease 2 bread loaf pans with shortening.

Step 9: After the dough has risen, remove the dough from the bowl and place it onto the counter. Divide dough in half and shape it into the bread loaf pans. Cover with kitchen towel and let rise until doubled; approximately 45 minutes in a warm room.

Step 10: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for about 30-40 minutes (everyone's oven temperature varies, so keep that in mind).

Step 11: After bread is done, remove loaves from pans onto a wire rack to cool. Then take a wet paper towel, and it can be really good and wet. Wipe off the tops of the baked loaves of bread while it is still hot. This does not make your bread soggy. It keeps the bread crust soft! But, you can skip this step if you want.

Step 12: Let it cool completely before cutting, if you can. :)