Our Daily Bread

     Here it is, the post you have been waiting for, the bread making tutorial.  You'll have to excuse some of the pictures, I only have a point and shoot camera. ( Wishing for a better one, but we'll see!)  I do recommend any first time bread baker to invest in a bread machine.  I have tried bread in my Kitchenaid mixer, only to have it turn out too dry every time.  The bread machine seems to mix it up perfectly and does such a great job of raising the dough, too!  Machines are pretty pricey, but all of mine I have bought at Goodwill for pretty cheap.  My latest model was by far the cheapest!

('Just had to add this picture. I started to remove the sticker, but left it on to remind me of how exciting cheap prices can be!!  Don't you just love finding a super bargain??) Second hand stores are great places to find machines.  Most people get them for Christmas, use it a few times and then it just ends up gathering dust and taking up a lot of room in the cupboard.  Ask around. Many people may have one that they no longer use that they will be willing to let you try out, or just have!  Be sure the machine has a "dough" cycle.  I have found that bread baked in the machine tends to be very dry with a hard crust. Plus, baking it in the oven makes people think that you are a supermom or something!!

     So, here is the recipe that I use the most.  Layer these ingredients in the bread machine in this order:
                                           1 cup plus 2 Tbsp warm water (not so hot that you couldn't drink it!)
                                           1 1/2 Tbsp  honey
                                           1 Tbsp real butter (or lard, margarine, coconut oil, olive oil)
                                           1 tsp salt (salt can interfere with the yeast, so I always add it to the liquids)
                                           1 egg (optional, I add it to give some moisture and protein)
                                           1/2 cup rolled oats (I use old fashioned, quick oats are fine, too)
                                            2  cups white whole wheat flour

     Okay, after you add these, make a "well" in the top of the flour and add 1 3/4 tsp of yeast. Just like this:

     Just a note about flour.  I use Prairie Gold brand.  It is a white wheat, very soft, and very yummy.  You hardly notice that it is whole wheat.  Very family friendly!!  The recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of flour, I usually use less to begin with and add more later. Whole wheat flour tends to "soak up" more of the liquid, thus it can get too dry too fast.  So, watch it and add more as you go. 

     So, now select the right setting.  I have tried other cycles, and then forget about them and the bread starts to bake.  The "dough" cycle mixes it up, then lets it raise and takes about an hour and a half, then beeps at the end to let you know that it is done.  A great way to let you multi-task and get some things done while you are "making" bread! :)

As soon as you press "start", the paddle in the bottom starts to turn.  It does it intermittently at first, stopping and starting to let the ingredients "fall" and mix together.  Don't shut the lid yet, you need to keep an eye on it!



  As it begins to form a dough, it will either be too wet or too dry.  This is the time to be vigilant!  Soon the machine will begin mixing constantly.  Be ready to add more flour.

     Now it is starting to form one solid chunk of dough, but is very wet, sticky and not smooth at all. We want smooth.  

     Add approximately 1/4 cup more flour to the mix.  Let it stir for awhile and watch.

Now it is starting to form more of a ball, but still is rather wet looking and not smooth.

You may have to add flour a couple of times until the dough forms one ball and is smooth looking, not sticky.

We now have a smooth ball, not sticking very much to the sides and spinning quickly in the machine.  Now, you can shut the lid and leave it alone for about an hour!

When your machine beeps, you will hopefully come back to find it looking like this.  Find your bread pan, spray it with oil or spread with butter and take the dough out of the machine.  Put it on a well floured flat surface and roll it out with a rolling pin.  (Sorry, on the day I was doing this, I had an emergency and had to do it very quickly and didn't have time to take pictures!!) Don't roll it flat and huge, just roll it about the width of your bread pan and about a foot and and half or so tall.  You are just wanting to get the bubbles out so you don't end up with holey bread.  Roll it back up and pinch the seam, place it in your bread pan and start the oven (375 F).  Let the bread rise for a few minutes while the oven is heating up.  I usually cover it with a cloth and let it sit until it reaches just above the edges of the pan.  Then stick it in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes.  Soon you will have heavenly smells coming from your kitchen!

Remove from the oven.  Next comes my favorite part:

Slather (love that word!) on lots of butter!  It makes the crust so yummy! 

     What a beautiful shine!  Now you need to remove the bread from the pan to cool. Gently slide a knife around the edges and it should come out when you turn the pan over.  Place it on a cooling rack so it doesn't get soggy on the bottom.  I like to use an electric knife to slice it.  It is easiest to slice when it is cool, but is soooo good when it is warm! 

     Not all loaves turn out perfectly.  There will be many loaves that are ugly, flat, or full of holes, but your family will be happy to be your guinea pigs as you try and try again!  Happy baking!