Bread Machines

Before we move on to bread machines, let's ask the basic question:  Why bake your own bread?  That's a really easy question for me to answer....  Just go look at the ingredient list on the back of your prepackaged bread.  First if you know what each and every ingredient is, you are better than me.  Secondly pay attention to how many types of sugar there are, especially in white bread.  We were buying one of the most popular brands, until the kids were born, that had 5 types of sugar.  I even had to look up some of sugar's aliases to figure it out.  Baking bread seemed like a really good, and easy, way to cut some of the crap out of our diet.   

Now, let's talk bread machines. The short comment is, these things are awesome.  A loaf of basic white can be made for as little as 50c.  That includes electricity.  You can set it to run while you're away or asleep (fresh bread after work or when you wake up is just excellent). And even the most basic models have a variety of options that allow you customize every recipe. 

One of the best things about bread machines, is that they are the speed boats of kitchen appliances.  Meaning that people buy them with huge expectations of using them every day and then, after using them 3 times, they sit for years until it's time for a garage sale.  And that's when you, the savvy person you are, swoop in and pick it up.  If you do a quick look on Craigslist you see that not a one goes for more than $100.  Most of them hit in the $20 - $50 range.  And Amazon carries brand new models for as low as $65

In our house, for the past 2 years anyway, we'll bake once or twice a week.  For those keeping count, somewhere around 75 loaves a year.  I use it for basic white and specialty breads alike.  The model I own is a mid range, square loaf (they do come in round) model made by Regal.  I've had it for 12 years now and have not one complaint.  If you take a look at the picture, you'll see that I even taped my most used recipes to the front.

Today was basic white day.  It took me 10 mins to add the ingredients.  3 hours later, fresh bread.  (Quick tip: no matter what type of bread you're baking, sift the flower after measuring)

 

 

I'll post my most used recipe's later, and feel free to send your favorite.  But until we talk bread again, go find a bread machine and let me know how it works out for you.