Honey-Whole Wheat Bread

Between Jason's coffee and this, my favorite bread recipe, our family consumes a lot of honey. Please, honey-bees, stop dying. We need you!
Modified slightly from the recipe on the back of the Gold Medal Whole Wheat flour bag.

4 t regular active dry yeast
1/4 c warm water

1/2 c honey
1/4 c butter
2-3 t salt
2 1/2 c very warm water
4 1/2 c whole wheat flour
2 3/4 - 3 c all-purpose, unbleached flour

In a small bowl (but not so small that the yeast will bubble out), dissolve yeast in warm water; set aside. In large bowl, mix honey, butter, salt and very warm water; cool 5 minutes.

To cooled honey mixture, beat in 3 cups of whole wheat flour with electric mixer on low speed, until moistened. Beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Beat in remaining 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour and dissolved yeast mixture. Add in all-purpose flour until dough pulls cleanly away from side of bowl.  Knead in mixer, or by hand for 5 to 10 more minutes, until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl; place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 30 to 45 minutes, or until doubled in size. The dough should not spring back when you poke in an inch deep with your finger.

Grease 2 (8x4 or 9x5-inch) loaf pans with shortening or cooking spray. Punch down the dough (the best part until the eating part) and divide in half. On a very lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 18x8 inch (approximately) rectangle. Starting with one 8-in side, roll up dough tightly; sealing the roll by pinching the crease closed when you are done rolling. Pinch and tuck under each end of the roll. Place seam side down in loaf pans. Cover; let rise in warm place 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover dough; bake 30 minutes or until loaves are browned and sound hollow when tapped. Immediately remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely (if you possess the will power to do so); about one hour before cutting.

Yield: 2 loaves (16 slices each)