Basic Wheat Bread

This bread is nothing spectacular, but it's a good bread. It was made as I worked my way through my Whole Grain Breads book. (I really need to get through this book since I have two more bread cookbooks that I haven't even started!)

Basic Wheat Bread
1 1/3 cups water
2 tsp. yeast
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
2 1/2 cups bread flour

Heat the water until warm, between 105ºF and 115ºF. Pour both into warmed mixing bowl, and add yeast. Let stand 5 minutes.

Add butter, salt, dry milk and wheat flour. Beat well. Cover and let stand 15 minutes.

Slowly add bread flour. Mix until dough forms. Knead on medium speed until dough is smooth and springy but soft to the touch. Cover and let rise one hour.

Punch down dough, and divide into 2 to 3 loaves. Shape into round loaves, and place on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 to 60 minutes. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until loaves are golden and wooden skewer comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.