If you just got a Breadmaker and are trying to figure out what to do....
For Hez and anyone else who just got a breadmaker for Christmas. (cross posted to bread_machine ).
- Bread flour is expensive. Skip the cost by purchasing Vital Wheat Gluten and adding that to all-purpose flour: 1 tsp. of gluten for every 1 cup of flour.
- Weigh your flour rather than using measuring cups. That way, whether the flour is densely packed or sifted shouldn't matter. You will get the same amount. 1 cup of flour = 5 oz.
- Most breadmaking books recommend refrigerating your flour so that it stays fresh. Unfortunately these same books never explain how to make room for the flour in your fridge.
- Those same books also suggest you use bottled spring water....I use the filtered water from my fridge. I've never noticed a difference.
- Some basic ingredients that you will want to have on hand for regular bread making: Bread Maker Yeast, White flour, Whole Wheat flour, Vital Wheat Gluten, honey, molasses, white sugar, brown sugar, powdered milk, instant mashed potato flakes, and salt. Additional ingredients: Rye flour, corn meal, raisins, other dried fruits, nuts, etc.
- Most books and recipes recommend that ingredients be at room temperature before use.
- One Book that I recommend: Betty Crocker's Best Bread Machine Recipes. I use this primarily for dessert breads because it has such lovely pictures that I want to make them all. I've never had a problem with any of the recipes from this book. I've made the Hot Cross Buns, Easy Apple Coffee Cake, Cinnamon Rolls, Golden Raisin Bread, Pumpernickel Bread, Vanilla Sour Cream Bread, and many, many more.
- Another book that I recommend is Bread Machine Magic. There are no pictures in this book. It is very straight forward and plain, and some of my favorite recipes are in this book. I love Marilyn's Everyday Health Bread and have made multiple variations. I've made the Sourdough bread and had lots of success. Though I do find it difficult to keep the starter going after I've made the initial bread, but that is because I don't want to make sourdough that often.