Breadmaking - recipes, hints, tips, questions

Allexie

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Oh dear, I can see I'm not going to be very good at this breadmaking malarkey.

My first attempt...very carefully measured out all the ingredients and put them in ......went to switch the BM on and noticed the bread pan thingy sitting all forlornly, (and emptily), on the side. I had only put the ingredients straight into the BM!!!! Wot a mess!! And I thought I was being so good by taking the bread pan out of the machine, (like wot the book sez), whilst putting in the ingredients.

Anyhoos, took forever to clean the thing out and start again but I've now got my first loaf in, (basic brown bread - didn't want to be too ambitious at first), and making some very strange noises. ETA is 9.45.

Now...two questions...help please!

The book of words for my Morphy Richards 48220 says to use 'traditional dry yeast'. The yeast that I got was 'Hovis Fast Action Yeast', (cos it was free with the flour!). Now, the book talks about 'instant quick rising yeast' and suggests that if using that then to reduce the quantity, (but doesn't say by how much!!). Soooo, which type of yeast is the Hovis FAY I've used the 'traditional dry yeast' quantity......got a feeling I've got that wrong....

And......

I've got a feeling that the cup/measure that came with the BM may not be the proper one as it hasn't got any markings on it unlike the picture in the book. All the recipes use this 'cup'measure but what exactly is a 'cup' in terms of quantities? Would it be a standard measure or is it something peculiar to the MR breadmaker.

Ooooh hecky thump....it's all gone quiet...must go and have a look...who needs TV when you have a BM

elvis_bloggs

Allexie wrote:

--- --- ------


Oh dear, I can see I'm not going to be very good at this breadmaking malarkey.

My first attempt...very carefully measured out all the ingredients and put them in ......went to switch the BM on and noticed the bread pan thingy sitting all forlornly, (and emptily), on the side. I had only put the ingredients straight into the BM!!!! Wot a mess!! And I thought I was being so good by taking the bread pan out of the machine, (like wot the book sez), whilst putting in the ingredients.

Anyhoos, took forever to clean the thing out and start again but I've now got my first loaf in, (basic brown bread - didn't want to be too ambitious at first), and making some very strange noises. ETA is 9.45.

Now...two questions...help please!

The book of words for my Morphy Richards 48220 says to use 'traditional dry yeast'. The yeast that I got was 'Hovis Fast Action Yeast', (cos it was free with the flour!). Now, the book talks about 'instant quick rising yeast' and suggests that if using that then to reduce the quantity, (but doesn't say by how much!!). Soooo, which type of yeast is the Hovis FAY I've used the 'traditional dry yeast' quantity......got a feeling I've got that wrong....

And......

I've got a feeling that the cup/measure that came with the BM may not be the proper one as it hasn't got any markings on it unlike the picture in the book. All the recipes use this 'cup'measure but what exactly is a 'cup' in terms of quantities? Would it be a standard measure or is it something peculiar to the MR breadmaker.

Ooooh hecky thump....it's all gone quiet...must go and have a look...who needs TV when you have a BM

Blimey, you need an instructor.

miacat

hi allexie, can,t help you out i,m afraid. but just had to say, your post did make me giggle. :rotfl: that's the sort of thing i do. I ain't got a bm yet, but am thinking of getting one but it does sound abit complicated does'nt it. hope your bread turns out good!

squeaky

tom_and_barbara_good wrote:

That is interesting seeing as you said that your experimental 'lesser water' loaf sunk. The flour bag that i got the recipe from gives a handbake version of the same loaf with 10 fl oz water so they assume that the machine method will need more water....hmmmm..

edit....on the bag it gives 1 lb 2 oz as 500 grammes not as your conversion

Indeed it IS interesting! Quite the reverse of the result I expected. Left me completely stumped. It was a nice enough loaf just a tiny bit denser than my usual. I'm going to try your mix next time I make a loaf to see what I get. A week to ten days from now...

And yes - my conversion was finger trouble on the calculator keys - they weren't connected to my brain at the time.

squeaky

Allexie wrote:

Ooooh hecky thump....it's all gone quiet...must go and have a look...who needs TV when you have a BM

LOL

It's all supposed to be dead simple. Put the ingredients in, press a button and walk away. Some hours later it beeps at you to tell you that it has made some bread. (Said beeping NOT to be confused with the beeping it does when it tells you that it is time to add fruit or nuts).

It's amazing how UNsimple it can get when it doesn't all work to plan.

As for your cup I suspect it's a standard one when filled level. To find out - set it on your scales and zero them. Fill it brim full of water. If it weighs 240g then it's 240mil in volume and is an American cup; and if it's 250g then it's 250mil in volume and is a European cup. Anything else will be non standard unless it is some multiple (x2 or x1.5 say) of a standard cup.

HTH

And don't forget to let us all know how it went

Allexie

miacat wrote:

hi allexie, can,t help you out i,m afraid. but just had to say, your post did make me giggle. :rotfl: that's the sort of thing i do. I ain't got a bm yet, but am thinking of getting one but it does sound abit complicated does'nt it. hope your bread turns out good!

I'm sure it isn't really that complicated when you've done it a few times...well I hope that's the case!

I love your avatar by the way

Allexie

squeaky wrote:

LOL

As for your cup I suspect it's a standard one when filled level. To find out - set it on your scales and zero them. Fill it brim full of water. If it weighs 240g then it's 240mil in volume and is an American cup; and if it's 250g then it's 250mil in volume and is a European cup. Anything else will be non standard unless it is some multiple (x2 or x1.5 say) of a standard cup.

Ermmmm.....me scales no understandee g's

9 and a half ozs ????? Go on work it out for me squeaks....you're soooo clever

Just got me torch and peered in the little window...oooh this is sooo exciting!!!!

*adds new scales to Christmas wish-list*




Is it something like 269g ????

blue-kat

I concur the lidl bread mix is excellent. It made a huge LIGHT rye loaf. kept well too.

much cheaper than buying shop rye bread.

heather+tom wrote:

Buy yourself the VITAL Breadmix .. from LIDL ... makes 2 breads ...
ALL is in ...
Works every time ...
costs 89 pence per Kg (hence 2 breads!)

&…is even VERY healthy .. (looking @ the ingredients )

'

miacat

allexie. according to my scales 9 1/2 oz is 250g. hope this helps!

Allexie

miacat wrote:

allexie. according to my scales 9 1/2 oz is 250g. hope this helps!

Awww thanks miacat :T

Cor...you would not believe the wonderful smell.........yum yum!!!