Bread Making

[sunshine]

Hallo
Is it better to bake or use a bread maker? My dad swears by his bread maker but as we have a really nice stove would like to do it the traditional way. If anyone has advice/recipes that would be great!
Thank u, Nessie

I bought a panasonic bread maker 4 years ago and it is incredible. When my children were little I used to make my own bread, using a large bowl (a washing up bowl is ideal, but use only for this purpose). I used to make 6 loaves at a time and freeze them. However I have found that the bread maker bread does not freeze too well.

Given a choice I would continue to use the machine, making bread is very hard work and time consuming with all the proofing you need to do.

I hope this is of use to you

[borage]

I found a bread maker useful for mixing and proving but preferred it baked in the oven. Now the bread maker has stopped working I mix the bread in my kenwood chef and have found the results much better. Time wise it doesn't take as long to mix prove and bake which is an advantage.

I would also be interested in the recipe for cibatta bread, only tried it once and it turned out like a pizza base

[Alison]

I have been experimenting with my bread maker and have found that

400g white strong flour
230 ml water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 sachet yeast

in whatever order your machine instructions say....a nice loaf and good for pizza bases.

I use 200g white / 200g wholemeal, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of yeast, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of milk powder and 1 think about 230ml of water also. Not quite sure how the milk powder bit works but the bread does seem to keep for longer.

[Bren In Pots]

I use the dough hook on my Kenwood chef it takes out all the boring kneading bits.

My scales are old shop lbs weight ones so for me its :-
1oz fresh yeast in
30 oz hand hot water
then add 3lb bread flour,
1oz white fat/or oil,
and nearly a tablespoon salt.

Give it 3 mins in the Kenwood then put it somewhere to prove for a hour-ish then its back in the Kenwood for 2 more mins.
Shape into either 26, 3oz rolls or 5 loaves (I've got some old Hovis bread tins) and leave for a second proving of about 30 mins.

Then bake until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

[Nessie]

Thanks for all the fab advice. Have just got my first ever dough in the boiler cupboard for a while before cooking it. I used the zazen999 recipe and whigger is going to try one of the others. I am not sure I kneaded it for long enough but my arms were aching and it certainly looks like bread!
Once I have got the hang of it I am going to try putting all sorts of stuff in. Pine nuts and cider are 2 of my favourite things so that could be a possibility!

[shirlthegirl43]

The best time to make bread by hand is when you are in a really bad mood - then you bash the living daylights out of it and get a super loaf

Sadly I am no longer able to knead dough in the way required so as Madmax says, I usually make the dough in the machine and then shape and bake however I fancy. Another superb use for the machine is to make dough for doughnuts - anyone want the recipe?

[sez]

I'm surprised she hasn't posted here yet but my friend kethry makes the loaves by hand, using i think 3/4 wholemeal and 1/4 white flour, and plenty of seeds, the loaves are deelish and i think she said last time they work out about 40p a loaf? which is considerably cheaper than the equivalent in the supermarket.

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh yes, when I take the dough out of the machine, I knead in seeds - poppy, sunflower and linseed usually. That is part of the shaping for the tin then it rises in the tin and gets baked in the oven - if it wasn't so late I would go and put a loaf to go now - all this reading of bread is making me hungry for some nice and warm from the oven - droooooooool Homer Simpson styleee!

[Nessie]

I can't wait to try ours... is about to go in the oven. Have got some cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil (sadly not home-grown) to go with it. Would love the doughnut recipe please!

[shirlthegirl43]

Doughnut dough - DOH!

1 1/4 (one and a quarter) cups milk
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1tsp salt (don't leave it out!)
3 1/2 (three and a half) cups white flour
1 1/2 (one and a half) teaspoons dry yeast

use dough setting

Measure ingredients into the pan in the order relevant to your machine

select dough setting

start

when cycle finished roll dough to 1/2 inch thick

cut out into 2 inch rounds and if desired find another cutter to cut 'holes'

leave to rise for 30 mins or so

deep fry at 190'c - turn when they rise to the surface - fry till brown both sides and then toss in sugar if desired or dry on kitchen paper. if you make them without holes, leave to cool then inject with raspberry or strawberry jam (or preferred home-made conserve)


NOTE - I suppose you could make the dough by hand but it would need a lot of bashing to get the lightness you want for doughnuts. the dough can be frozen after cutting out and before rising - open freeze then store in bags. defrost then leave to rise then deep fry.

[zazen999]

Hi
How is the bread Nessie - did the recipe work for you???

Will be making doughnuts for the family gathering on Easter Sunday - how timely!!!

[Nessie]

Hi
How is the bread Nessie - did the recipe work for you???

Will be making doughnuts for the family gathering on Easter Sunday - how timely!!!

I have taken a photo of it which I will try and put up tomorrow! I was so proud that I cooked something edible. Even found some sesame seeds in cupboard which I rolled it in for extra authenticity! Was really nice and excellent recipe except I spilt a bit too much oil in, and was so excited I didn't cook it for quite long enough so a bit stodgy. Am hooked though! We have eaten half of it already warm and the chief taster (14 year old staffie dog) likes it too. THANKS EVERYONE! Whigger is doing his loaf now (the same but I expect his will be better than mine - typical )

[todayiwillbemostlygrowing]

Just thought i'd add a link to the BBC Get Cooking pages which has a video of Lesley Waters making a white plait bread and Focaccia - an italian bread with rosemary. Very useful to watch.

This bread making post has been very interesting, I think I may even give it ago myself as a beginner cook.

[todayiwillbemostlygrowing]

I suppose it would help if I added the link I spoke of (doh! groan) BBC - Food - Get Cooking Click on lesley walters and the recipes scroll on the screen.

[shirlthegirl43]

I have taken a photo of it which I will try and put up tomorrow! I was so proud that I cooked something edible. Even found some sesame seeds in cupboard which I rolled it in for extra authenticity! Was really nice and excellent recipe except I spilt a bit too much oil in, and was so excited I didn't cook it for quite long enough so a bit stodgy. Am hooked though! We have eaten half of it already warm and the chief taster (14 year old staffie dog) likes it too. THANKS EVERYONE! Whigger is doing his loaf now (the same but I expect his will be better than mine - typical )

How did Whigger's loaf turn out?