John's Famous* Honey Whole Wheat Bread

John received a Cuisinart bread machine for Christmas, and we've since been trying to create the perfect loaf. I have aspirations to make real homemade bread, but the "set it and forget it" setup of this machine makes it pretty convenient and tough to turn down.

However, it's taken some trial and error to get the bread right. I know what you're thinking - if it's set it and forget it, what's there to learn? Well, for starters, the "optional" step of removing the kneading paddle mid-way through the process should be considered mandatory, otherwise it's impossible to remove or cut around once the loaf has solidified.  Secondly, slicing the bread is like an art. Use a knife too dull and you won't put a dent in the crust; use one that's too sharp (or serrated) will shred your bread up into chunks more suitable for dipping in olive oil than for constructing a sandwich. 

Anyway, the loaf that John prepared recently was the best yet. While the slices weren't perfect, the loaf turned out in a good shape, the bread itself was cooked uniformly, and it kept fairly moist versus some drier loaves we'd ended up with in the past. However, keeping the bread from drying out after a couple days has proved difficult. So what's the secret to perfect bread machine bread? I wish I knew! Anyone have tips or tricks for the perfect loaf, every time?

  

*This bread is probably only famous in our household.