Yummy Wheat Bread

I finally learned to make bread! I've tried a few recipes and came up with this mishmash of a couple of them.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 36-40
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄2 cups  sifted whole wheat flour
• 3 -4  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  cup  mixed barley or 1  cup sunflower seeds or 1  cup rolled oats (mixed, etc.)
• 3  tablespoons sugar
• 1  tablespoon salt
• 2  tablespoons shortening (butter flavored is great)
• 2  packages  yeast (or 2 scant Tbsp.)
• 2 1⁄4 cups warm water

Directions

1. Mix the water and yeast together in a separate bowl.
2. Let sit about 10 minutes.
3. Mix the whole wheat flour, grain, sugar, salt and shortening in a large bowl.
4. Stir the water-yeast mixture into the dry ingredients for one minute.
5. Add remaining all-purpose flour a little at a time to keep dough easier to handle.
6. Turn dough onto a floured surface.
7. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes).
8. As you knead, add more flour if necessary to obtain correct texture.
9. Clean mixing bowl, grease and place the dough in the bowl.
10. Turn it once to have greased side up.
11. Cover and let rise until double (40-60 min.).
12. Punch dough down and divide into two equal amounts.
13. Shape each halve into a loaf shape and set in greased loaf pan.
14. Cover and let rise again until double (30-50 min.).
15. Preheat oven to 375F.
16. Place loaf pans in center of oven with space between the pans to allow heat to move freely.
17. Bake until golden brown on top and loaf makes a hollow sound when tapped- approx.
18. 30 min.
19. Remove bread from pans, cool completely on wire rack.
20. Slice and enjoy!
21. Makes 2 loaves.