Serves: 5
Total Calories: 663
Yield: 2 medium loaves

2 tablespoons active dry yeast (two 1/4 ounce packets)
1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon molasses or maple syrup
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup vital wheat gluten
5 to 6 cups whole wheat flour

1. Place the yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and a drop of the sweetener in a small bowl. Stir and let sit a few minutes until the yeast dissolves.
2. In a large bowl, add the maple syrup, oil, sea salt, 2 cups warm water, and the dissolved yeast. Stir well. Add the vital wheat gluten and about 2 cups of flour to the bowl and beat with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Continue adding more flour a little at a time until the dough becomes too stiff to stir and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
3. Turn out the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for at least 10 minutes or until soft and elastic.
4. Transfer the kneaded dough to a large, oiled bowl, then turn it over so the top is coated with oil. Cover the bowl with a clean damp cloth and place in a warm spot for about an hour or until the dough doubles in bulk.
5. Punch down the risen dough, then fold it over and press out any air bubbles.
6. Cut the dough in half, shape each half into a loaf, then place the loaves in two well-oiled and floured 8.5-x-4.5-inch bread pans. Lightly cover the pans and let the loaves rise again about 45 minutes or until doubled.
7. Place the pans on the middle rack of a 350°F oven, and bake for 45 minutes or until the tops are brown and hollow-sounding when rapped on the bottom with your knuckle. Cool on a wire rack before serving.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 5
Total Calories: 663
Calories from Fat: 101

More Recipes from the Vicki's Vegan Kitchen Cookbook:
Basic Whole Wheat Bread
Delicious Onion Rolls
Cinnamon Raisin Swirl
Raisin Bread
Sesame Cloverleaf Rolls
Cinnamon Pecan Sticky Rolls
Rosemary and Garlic Focaccia
Golden Squash Bread
Sourdough Starter
Sourdough Rye
Savory Tomato-Basil-Corn Muffins
Savory Corn Muffins
Best Blueberry Muffins
Banana-Walnut Muffins
Vicki's Flaxseed Muffins
Apple, Spice, and Oatmeal Muffins
Cinnamon Raisin Muffins
Vegan Cornbread
Petit Coconut Ginger Scones
Pie Crust Pointers
Potato Pie Crust
No-Excuse Quick Bread Crumb Crust
Whole Wheat Pie Crust
Whole Wheat Press-In Crust
Pecan Pie Crust
Coconut Pie Crust