Simple Bread That Even the French Approve Of

Our daily bread; this is the one I make almost every day. I use a bread machine, but you can knead it by hand, I'll give the directions for that method too. It is simply perfect warm with butter to be eaten with your soup.

1 3/4 c very warm water
1-2 T olive oil
1 T salt
1 T yeast
2 c whole wheat flour
2 c unbleached white flour
(optional; 3 T honey)

If you are using a bread machine: put yeast into warm water, stir, add a pinch of sugar or honey to proof yeast. Wait until yeast bubbles, add olive oil and salt, (and optional honey). Pour into machine. Add the flour on top of liquid ingredients, set bread machine to "rapid" cycle. Tip; return in one minute with a spatula to scrape sides of machine down to the bottom to avoid the "dried out flour on the sides" dilemma many machines will cause on this cycle. When done, follow directions in last paragraph.

Alternatively: set the machine to the "dough" cycle. Remove after an hour, place in oiled bread pan, or make small balls and set them on an oiled cookie sheet or a stone pizza dish. Place in cold oven, set it to warm to 370, bake for 30-40 minutes, less for buns. 

By hand; follow to just before adding the flour. Place liquid in a large mixing bowl. Add in flour cup by cup, up to three cups, stirring vigorously until you can stir no more, then begin to knead on a floured surface. When you have a nice, elastic, smooth dough, place it in a greased bread pan or form it into a ball and put it on a cookie sheet. Cover with a damp towel, put in a warm place and let rise for an hour. Place in cold oven, set it to warm to 370, bake for 45-60 minutes. Done when you can hear a hollow sound when you tap the loaf.

Remove to a wire cooling rack and let cool a little while before slicing, enjoy!