Whole Wheat Bread from Janil

In a large bowl combine:

1 Tb yeast

2 1/4 cups war water

2 TB sugar

2 tsp salt

3 cups whole wheat flour

Whisk 100 times and let raise 1/2 - 1 hour. (I usually do an hour) Cover with a lid, but not tightly closed.  The mixture should be bubbly.

While the above is raising do the following

In a small sauce pan add:

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 Tbs shortening 

1/2 cup water

Melt and cool to lukewarm.

Once the shortening mixture is lukewarm and you have let the yeast mixture raise, pour the shortening mixture into the yeast mixture and stir.  At first it looks like it won't come together but as you continue to stir it will.  Then add 3 1/3 - 4 cups of white flour. (I add about 2 1/2 cups of white flour to the mixture while it is still in the bowl. Then I dump the rest onto the surface I will use to knead the bread and mix it in through kneading)  Knead 200 times.  (I generally don't do that many - maybe for a few minutes)  Place in a greased bowl and allow it to rise until doubled in size (about an hour to an hour and a half).

Cut into 2 even portions.  Knead them into loaves, and place the loaves into greased and floured bread pans.  Allow the loaves to rise just until even with the top of the bread pan, and bake in a 375 preheated oven for 30 minutes.  Take out of the pans immediately, allow them to slightly cool, and enjoy.