Soft Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 2 loaves

3.5 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/3 C Gluten Flour (makes it rise better)
1 T + 1 t. Yeast
2.5 C Hot Water
1 T Salt
1/3 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 C Honey
1 T + 1 t. Orange Juice (the vitamin C makes it softer)
2.5 C Whole Wheat Flour

Mix the first three ingredients together, then add the hot water. Mix with your fingers* for 1 minute. Let it rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large cup, mix together the salt, oil, honey, and orange juice until it looks like all of the ingredients are one (ohmmmmm). Add this mixture to the flour mixture (after it rests for 10 minutes) and mix with your hands for 1 minute.

Add the last 2.5 C of flour and knead for 15 minutes by hand (or 6-10 minutes with a mixer). Add a tiny bit of flour as needed, BUT the dough should be gooey!! and needs to stay slightly gooey in order to turn into a soft bread.

Preheat your oven @ 350 for 2 minutes, then turn your oven off. Divide the dough into two loaves and place them in oiled bread pans. Place the pans in the (turned off) oven and let them rise for 20-25 minutes.

Without taking the pans out of the oven, turn the oven on again to 350 and bake your bread for 30 minutes.

*I mix my bread by hand, but you can use a mixer like a Bosch or a Kitchen Aide - of course.