BREAD MACHINE BREAD

I had been baking and baking since I had my children home for the 2010 holidays – I finally tried the whole wheat version, based on comments posted to the original white bread recipe. This is the link to the original recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Bread-Machine-Bread/Detail.aspx

From the whole wheat recipe in the comments section, I omitted the gluten and powdered milk. I didn’t use “bread flour,” (although the comment stated it was “essential” to the recipe), simply because I didn’t happen to have it on hand. It came out excellent and the family thought it tasted better than the white bread… So I baked another loaf of whole wheat.

Shared it at the monthly DUP meeting I felt like I was  my friend, Patrice Ringger, because everyone was asking for my recipe!” Doesn’t happen very often and I’m happy to share. Patrice suggested I try using the dough setting and making rolls. Dare I branch out and try something other than pushing the start button?

The whole wheat bread machine recipe of the bread I shared at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) meeting is the second recipe, but the white bread is just as good. I mill my own wheat so it tends to be a bit courser than store bought. But the bread was soft and great for sandwiches, French toast, etc…. I am new at this bread machine adventure and had tried several recipes. This one rises and is soft and delicious. I added the brown sugar. I am not sure if it is the ingredients or if it’s the method that makes this recipe successful. I have a feeling it is having the yeast activate for 15 min that does the trick. If it doesn’t foam up much, I wait longer. My machine looks like in the photo and I just press start. I’ve never tried doing anything except plugging it in and pressing start.

The following 2 comments were among hundreds on the recipe I found on the Internet. The original recipe was found at this site, and the whole wheat suggestions were from one of the comments beneath the recipe. – Amelia

“This recipe flies in the face of conventional wisdom. It says to place the yeast in the water for 10 minutes before adding the flour! My bread machine instructions, “Electric Bread” cookbook, and even the bottle of yeast said to not allow the yeast to touch the liquid in advance. They all recommend adding water first, then the flour mixture, and yeast on top of that. Well, what do I have to lose? I tried this recipe the way it was written, and for the first time ever, I had a light fluffy loaf that rose to the top of my machine! Never has a loaf of bread made from scratch turned out this well. Thank you!”

“I have to say, I was practically terrified making this bread. It went against the manufacturer’s instructions on how to add ingredients (which firmly said to add yeast last, on top of flour). I also only had regular yeast & flour. But… I got my breadmaker yesterday for Christmas and had to try it. It was delicious! It turned out light and fluffy, despite all of my blundering. It wasn’t dense at all, like with my mom’s bread machine recipe. It tasted just like my grandmother’s hand-made recipe- except without all the work! Thanks for the great recipe. Oh, and my third loaf is baking as I type this! ”

Best Bread Machine Recipe

WHITE BREAD

1 cup warm tap water

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 ½ tsp yeast OR 1 pkg(.25 oz) yeast

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 cups flour

1 ½ teaspoon salt

Place the water, sugars and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 15 minutes. Add the oil, flour and salt to the yeast. Select Basic or White Bread setting, and press Start. (I just plug it in and push the start button.)

AMELIA’S WHOLE WHEAT BREAD MACHINE BREAD
Here is my recipe – Amelia

1 1/3     cups warm water

3 ½  teaspoons yeast

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 cup oil

2 cups flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tsp salt

Place the water, sugars and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 20 minutes. Add the oil, flour and salt to the yeast.

Select Basic or White Bread setting, and press Start.  (I just plug it in and push the start button.)

RAISIN BREAD VARIATION: Select “mix bread” or “raisin/nut” setting. Press the start button. It should pre-knead, rest and rise, and begin kneading again before adding raisins. (The bread machine should beep to signal when to add raisins, nuts, etc…. My Hitachi-Hb-B101 model beeps 4 minutes before finishing the 2nd kneading, about 25 minutes after starting.)
Open lid and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 cup of raisins over the top of the dough, try not to clump it all together. Close lid. It will continue kneading, incorporating the raisins and spice into the bread, and then will bake as usual.