Marianne
Super Self-Sufficient
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2011
- Messages
- 3,269
- Reaction score
- 355
- Points
- 287
- Location
- rural Abilene, KS, 67410 USA
Lots of good information, Icu4dzs
Yes, I agree, I always try to use small appliances instead of cranking on my big oven. If I use the oven, I always bake several loaves at a time. Using the bread machine is much easier if you are busy but want a loaf of fresh bread. The only issue I have with the hole in the bottom is that I always have to dig the paddle out of the loaf, so it's fairly large. The bread machine that I have is one that my son didn't want, so it's probably fairly old, but it still works well.
As to the cost of homemade bread? If that guy bought small quantites of flour, yeast, etc, then his cost would be considerably higher per loaf than those of us that buy in bulk, or like you, grind your own. Like I said, I was shocked when I read it. I'm sure that most (all?) of the breadmakers on the forum would have a much less cost per loaf.
What a score on the bread insert for your cooker. And the heated towel in the cooler is a great idea.
Yes, SD, slow cooker is the appliance, Crock Pot is the brand name of a slow cooker that a lot of us use (including me, half the time).
Crown of Thorns, this is the recipe for Amish Friendship bread that I use:
http://www.armchair.com/recipe/bake002.html
That link has links to a lot of variations and other things that you can make with the batter.
Remember that you don't have to use one cup of everything on days 6 and 10 (baking day). The only time I do that is if someone wants some starter. You just have to 'feed' it to keep the yeast alive. I always have more than a cup in my freezer bag (I like using a gallon freezer bag instead of a bowl). Just remember to 'burp' the bag periodically. I forgot about it when I first mixed up the starter, had it in a really warm area...when I looked at it, it was a balloon! I can't believe the bag didn't burst.
You can also bake bread sooner than the 10 days with good results.
I don't use separate bowls for wet and dry ingredients when I make the bread. Just mix all the wet, add all the dry on top (except for the nuts if you use them) and turn the mixer on for a couple minutes. Then stir in the nuts.
I always use cinnamon-sugar to coat the greased pans, and then add cinnamon-sugar to the top of the batter before baking. Good stuff.
Yes, I agree, I always try to use small appliances instead of cranking on my big oven. If I use the oven, I always bake several loaves at a time. Using the bread machine is much easier if you are busy but want a loaf of fresh bread. The only issue I have with the hole in the bottom is that I always have to dig the paddle out of the loaf, so it's fairly large. The bread machine that I have is one that my son didn't want, so it's probably fairly old, but it still works well.
As to the cost of homemade bread? If that guy bought small quantites of flour, yeast, etc, then his cost would be considerably higher per loaf than those of us that buy in bulk, or like you, grind your own. Like I said, I was shocked when I read it. I'm sure that most (all?) of the breadmakers on the forum would have a much less cost per loaf.
What a score on the bread insert for your cooker. And the heated towel in the cooler is a great idea.
Yes, SD, slow cooker is the appliance, Crock Pot is the brand name of a slow cooker that a lot of us use (including me, half the time).
Crown of Thorns, this is the recipe for Amish Friendship bread that I use:
http://www.armchair.com/recipe/bake002.html
That link has links to a lot of variations and other things that you can make with the batter.
Remember that you don't have to use one cup of everything on days 6 and 10 (baking day). The only time I do that is if someone wants some starter. You just have to 'feed' it to keep the yeast alive. I always have more than a cup in my freezer bag (I like using a gallon freezer bag instead of a bowl). Just remember to 'burp' the bag periodically. I forgot about it when I first mixed up the starter, had it in a really warm area...when I looked at it, it was a balloon! I can't believe the bag didn't burst.
You can also bake bread sooner than the 10 days with good results.
I don't use separate bowls for wet and dry ingredients when I make the bread. Just mix all the wet, add all the dry on top (except for the nuts if you use them) and turn the mixer on for a couple minutes. Then stir in the nuts.
I always use cinnamon-sugar to coat the greased pans, and then add cinnamon-sugar to the top of the batter before baking. Good stuff.
