Bread Machines

I definitely have a big breadbelly!  or is it the wine...?  

I can't pinpoint where mine comes from. The bread, the wine, the chocolate... My problem is probably more breadthighs though! Thanks for the recipe, Mrs. R.

I'm so disappointed though, because I went to buy the one CB did and the price had been bumped up to £96! Gah! I had only JUST checked it, discussed with DH, and when I went to buy it said it was no longer available at that price.  

I can't pinpoint where mine comes from. The bread, the wine, the chocolate... My problem is probably more breadthighs though! Thanks for the recipe, Mrs. R.

I'm so disappointed though, because I went to buy the one CB did and the price had been bumped up to £96! Gah! I had only JUST checked it, discussed with DH, and when I went to buy it said it was no longer available at that price.  

Aww Sad times! You can set up a tracker so when it drops in price you get an email on here - http://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Panasonic-SD-2500-Automatic-Breadmaker-Program/product/B004RTJWMC

I really love camelcamel for watching the prices of big purchases and seeing if a deal on Amazon is actually a deal

Actually, it's £60 at both Tesco and John Lewis... But out of stock at both. Lame. I guess I'm gonna wait a while!

Woohoo! I called John Lewis and they have it in stock in-store. Reserved, about to go pick it up.

Woohoo! I called John Lewis and they have it in stock in-store. Reserved, about to go pick it up.

Uh-MAZE!

Hooray!!   

Because of my MS I can't justify using the energy it takes to knead dough by hand.

Completely understand.

I had thought of getting a bread machine as well! But now I'm more interested in trying to make my own! Anybody got some good tips and recipes for a newbie bread maker? 

Just Google for a simple basic bread recipe and dive right in!

I prefer to use fresh yeast rather than the sachets, but either should be fine. I just find the dry stuff to be unreliable - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - and fresh has never failed me. Plus, you can freeze what you don't use for later.

I find kneading the dough to be very therapeutic.

Me too! I love it!

Also, I think when people think of kneading dough they assume it takes AGES. But you don't need to do more than 10 minutes, and sometimes can get by with less. It's not a long process at all.

Just Google for a simple basic bread recipe and dive right in!

I prefer to use fresh yeast rather than the sachets, but either should be fine. I just find the dry stuff to be unreliable - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - and fresh has never failed me. Plus, you can freeze what you don't use for later.

Also, I think when people think of kneading dough they assume it takes AGES. But you don't need to do more than 10 minutes, and sometimes can get by with less. It's not a long process at all.

Thanks for that!! (I didn't even know that much!) I'm just really trying to get my hand into doing more baking and things. My husband and I love EVERYTHING about homemade bread! Taste, texture, etc....YUUMM!!

You baked any bread yet M?

I've got my first loaf in, should be out in about 30 minutes. It's the most simple one in the recipe book.

You baked any bread yet M?

I've got my first loaf in, should be out in about 30 minutes. It's the most simple one in the recipe book.

Yeah, we've baked 3 loaves so far, and will be doing another one tonight. Only done white bread so far, but trying something different today. It comes out lovely and crisp on the outside but fluffy on the inside. I'm really pleased!

Made some lovely bread pudding with the remains of the last loaf, too.

Oh yay!!!   

This is my from-memory granary bread that I make all the time (and it's probably in your machine booklet anyway)...for the smallest size loaf on my machine:

1/2 tsp yeast
400 g flour - my best result is invariably using about 1/2 granary & 1/2 wholemeal flour...I just dump it in to around the 200g+- on the first half & then top up with the rest to the 400g

1 Tbsp milk powder
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 tsp salt
15 g butter
280 ml (or g, it's the same!) water

It's what we use for sandwiches & toast - nearly all of the time.  DH doesn't like getting shopbought bread for either of these anymore, because it just falls apart by comparison.  Whereas the crumb/texture of the homemade granary is dense enough it just holds together so much nicer.

Oh I've been wanting a bread machine for ages (used to have one in the US and I loved it to bits) and this thread is doing its best to make me want to go out and get one asap....... 

Thanks, Mrs. R! Mine came with a HUGE recipe book, with the granary bread recipe. It has a section for breads, section for just doughs, and even cakes and jams. Love it...

PB, you shoud totally get one. It's been amazing having fresh bread all the time.