Bread-maker breaks out of the bread box

Sometimes, I make other stuff, too.  And make enough of a mess that I have to pull out the burners & drip pans to clean.

French bread for the masses

Thus far my bread has only been made for immediate family other than the Rosemary bread, which was for a small group. Last night, a crowd of 8 family members, plus Toddler Girl, were subject to my novice breadmaking skills. I would have loved to bring Italian bread to compliment my mother-in-law's amazing cooking but I'm too nervous to make the transition to the oven for that crunchy crust. So I tried the Sunbeam manual's French bread setting. After the last rise & collapse due to Sunbeam's recipe, plus a helpful review on Amazon, I used almost half as much yeast.

Well, no one fell over in their chair at the freshness or flavor of this bread. but no once really batted an eye, either. The bread usually served is thick-sliced and bakery-fresh so my loaf was oddly shaped by comparison, but no one complained or commented so I'm going to call it a success. Soft white bread? Toddler Girl was sold!  We wont rush into making this one for home use since I prefer the health whole wheat, but I would be proud to bring this to the family dinner.

• Recipe: French Setting Recipe from Sunbeam's manual on page 31
• Mistakes: Not-a-one!
• Changes: Used 2-1/2 teaspoons of yeast instead of 4 teaspoons (!)
• Rating: 7/8 Crunching Munchers
• Next time: Maybe an extra quarter teaspoon of yeast

Branching out yields sweet results

For the first time I voluntarily made changes to a recipe I found online. Granted, the changes were based on reviews by other people, but I was excited (and anxious) to get out of my comfort zone a bit.  One thing that had me a little nervous was the raisins.  The recipe said to wait until the "add in" beep, but some reviews also said it helped to soak the raisins before adding them.  I figured just adding them with the other ingredients would strike a balance.  The taste is great but the raisins were definitely cooked & mushed to near oblivion, so I'll wait to add them in next time.

When she heard I had a new bread machine, the first thing my mother asked was if I could make raisin bread. Sure, why not? When we see her this weekend, I hope to surprise her with a fresh loaf of her own.  This one is the test loaf.  You know, for science.  I'm not sure if the stretch marks are because the loaf had a baby or maybe there's another reason but teh interwebs didn't help me this time.  Any veteran bread makers have an idea?

Most importantly, the darling Toddler Girl loved it.  Smeared with honey butter, it was a sweet dessert after a messy, trying dinner.  The bread is fresh and light but the whole wheat makes is slightly dense. I bet with all white flour, it would be rather indulgent.  We'll definitely keep this around for dessert or Sunday morning toast.

• Recipe: Cinnamon Raisin Bread for the Bread Machine on food.com
• Mistakes: Nothing unintentional
• Changes: Butter instead of margarine (who uses margarine, seriously?), an extra teaspoon of cinnamon, and substituted one of the cups of white flour with whole wheat flour
• Rating: 2/2 Delighted, Kicking Toddler Legs
• Next time: Add raisins later, maybe a medium crust, more whole wheat flour if for our use

High hopes for Rye Bread that falls flat

What a depressed looking rye.  Toddler Girl's quip: "Mama, the bread is sad from the breadmaker".  Yeah, it doesn't look too happy.  Today, I learned that there's a big difference between the jar of Bread Machine Yeast and those little packets of Active Dry Yeast.  eHow explained why you can't use Bread Machine Yeast when it calls for ADY:

Active dry yeast takes twice as long to rise as bread machine yeast. Traditional yeast needs two risings compared with only one with bread machine yeast. Bread machine yeast is more finely ground so it absorbs moisture faster. The sugars convert sooner to carbon dioxide and make the dough rise.

Read more: Bread Machine Yeast Vs. Active Dry Yeast | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5501256_bread-vs-active-dry-yeast.html#ixzz2Izfrxdsg

Basically, my bread rose too fast and then collapsed instead of rising slow & steady with ADY. But, it's still fresh as heck and I'm feeling sort of healthy eating it.  Even though I spread cinammon honey butter on it. But then Toddler Girl will eat it, too.

• Recipe: Swedish Rye Bread from the Breadmachine by Bob's Red Mill
• Mistakes: Used Bread Machine Yeast
• Rating: 8/10 Caraway Seeds
• Next time: Use Active Dry Yeast, maybe more orange zest?

Picky toddler eats veggies by the handful

Ha ha, not really. No surprise that Toddler Girl eats raisins, grapes, cheese and not much else. Yes, I know raisins and grapes are the same thing. Carbohydrates are something she will consume if the texture is soft and the flavor is sweet, so carrot muffins and zucchini bread are in the regular rotation. With this veggie bread, I'm hoping to sneak in some variety.  We served tuna salad on thick slices with Munster cheese and lettuce. Gourmet, kinda. Those over 2 years old loved it.

• Recipe: Garden Vegetable Bread from tasteofhome
• Mistakes: Almost forgot the oil!  While I was cleaning up, halfway through the 1st kneading cycle, I picked up the oil and realized I hadn't added any.
• Rating: 2/3 Teeny Tiny Toddler bites
• Next time: whole wheat flour and some new vegetables.

Ugly bread defies expectations: still freakin' delicious

Deflated, wrinkly bread was actually very good. Texture was just like soft store bought stuff but without the dreaded HFCS.  I used the whole wheat recipe that came in the manual.  Toddler Girl ate some but without enthusiasm, even when we spread some taramosalata in it. Which one of us is crazy?

Google Answers referenced a broken allrecipes link that explained "Too much yeast made the bread rise so high that it hit the top [of the bread machine]. This prevented the hot air from circulating over the bread." So deflating the bread (like a frantic bongo player) might have been the only way to save it, although it may have collapsed on it's own, anyway. At least it didn't spill over onto the heating element.  Google also quoted a chef on some forum in saying that "2 1/4 teaspoons will leaven 6 to 8 cups of flour" so I think the 3 teaspoons for 4 1/2 cups of flour could be a little excessive.  I'll try this recipe again with less yeast.

• Recipe: Sunbeam's manual on page 32
• Mistakes: Followed directions / too much yeast
• Rating: 5/6 Breadmaking Heartaches
• Next time: 2 teaspoons of yeast instead of 3

Too much yeast makes homer something something

Is this too much? I think this is too much!  First 2lb recipe called for 3 teaspoons of yeast...maybe less, next time?  I panicked and poked it a little.  Now it looks like an old man.

Will report results after baking. 

1/21/13: It's here: Update on the Wrinkly Bread.

Rosemary bread pleases majority for a lamb chop dinner

I made this to serve the in-laws when they came for dinner.  The recipe calls for Italian seasoning, I just used a couple shakes of oregano, basil & thyme. Toddler Girl wasn't enthusiastic about this one but the adults who also enjoyed rack of lamb, garlic sauteed spinach and feta raisin couscous salad  liked the herb-y flavor.  The few remaining slices are destined to be leftover-lamb sandwiches tomorrow afternoon.

• Recipe: Jo's Rosemary Bread from tasteofhome
• Mistakes: Sliced it for dinner, realized dinner wasn't ready, wrapped it in foil and put it in the oven, pulled it out for dinner, realized dinner still wasn't ready, mauled it a bit, put it back in the oven...
• Rating: 5/5 for the Senior Discount
• Next time: whole wheat flour

Getting feet wet with basic white bread

First recipe made and then promptly devoured was a basic white bread.  It was a perfect beginner loaf and thankfully, the year old packets of Active Dry yeast worked.  This bread lasted less than 48 hours before being nibbled & snacked away. Thick, chewy, airy, soft.

• Recipe: White Bread For The Bread Machine from allrecipes
• Mistakes: None, yay!
• Rating: 10/10 would eat again
• Next time: Might make a sweeter version of this for dessert but otherwise it's not healthy enough to make again

Used but never-used bread machine thrills toddler (and mom)

Found an ad on Craigslist for a $20 Sunbeam bread maker - never used and it looked spotless.  Brought it home and immediately started our first loaf.  Both Toddler Girl and Beginner-Breadmaking Mama were captivated.