Thats another fine mess I got myself into

Helen105

Hi Red
Just catching up on your diary & see you were asking about breadmakers. I got one for Christmas and it does work but it will only do one 1lb loaf at a time so it is easier to do a 3lb batch by hand at the weekend and put it in the freezer.
The Wonderful Weezl has an easy recipe here (along with a lot of other wonderful recipes)
http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-breadofheaven.html?opt=rsnack

but when I do it I give it a double rising ie leave it to rise, shape it into tins & then leave it to rise again.

I use the breadmaker these days mainly for making pizza dough or things like hot cross buns. So the verdict on the breadmaker is if you can get someone to give you one for Christmas it's great, otherwise don't bother.

Herewego

You ok Red ? I know it's that week in the month, or is it DH impressed with the new look you have taken on......
Then again you could be nursing your feet from those heels, just dont want you breaking out the champers again.

InaPickle

Herewego wrote: »

You ok Red ? I know it's that week in the month, or is it DH impressed with the new look you have taken on......
Then again you could be nursing your feet from those heels, just dont want you breaking out the champers again.

:rotfl: So that means that Reddie is either :mad: or , does it?! :rotfl:

And stop being so quiet, missus: it's not like you at all!

Herewego

I think we can rule out :j not sure the heels or toes will allow, but she has been known to :EasterBun have a little moment LOL

Woowoo

Hi Red

I think were all missing you, your not normally so quiet!

You haven't discovered a life beyond this forum have you lol!

Cialilerin

Woowoo wrote: »

You haven't discovered a life beyond this forum have you lol!

Is there such a thing?:)

dfw844

Hi Red,

Wading in to the breadmaker debate. I got one as a present, and had a lot of trouble with it at first (loaves were horrible). However, I after some tips on OS I am now turning out really lovely loaves. Like you I live in the middle of nowhere, so I think it's great. No more getting in the car to drive to the nearest shop on cold nights. I make sure I have the ingredients in all the time, and I can make any number of different loaves from a few basic supplies. I also buy strong breadflour from Costco in 15kg bags. It's cheaper, really good stuff (Marriages is the brand), and then I decant it into cupboard sized storage containers (got some with a little scoop in the lid from Asda, great). For me, it's less the cost and more the convenience, but I have certainly seen a big saving. Especially since we got a milkman as well. I was always popping into the supermarket at lunchtime or on the way home for bread and milk. Whilst I was there I would usually spend about a tenner on 'essentials'! Now I hardly ever call in, I don't miss whatever it was I was buying each time. So that's a moneysaver for me too. Also, at first I didn't like the really crunchy crust on BM bread. I read that if you wrap it in a clean tea towel as it cools it makes it soft, and my DH much prefers it that way. And I also have a nut and seed dispenser and very much rate it for wholemeal and granary if you like those breads. Hope that helps! And hope you get tickets for this weekend too.

dfw844

Also, just to add, the loaves are quite small, but there are only two of us, so it is better. It doesn't keep particularly long, about 5 days? So if the loaves were any bigger they would go to waste. Also means we can have a variety - white and wholemeal etc. I can see if you had lots of kids it would be annoying the loaves being so small though. And the dough setting is brill, I now do a great french stick (I jst shape the dough, slash the top and put in the oven), which in turn makes a garlic bread, and the others freeze really well for lunches. I also do cinnamon and raisin bagels, and slice them before I freeze them so for a breakfast on the run, I just chuck 'em in the toaster frozen. You must slice first, they are impossible to slice frozen!

InaPickle

dfw844 wrote: »

I also do cinnamon and raisin bagels, and slice them before I freeze them so for a breakfast on the run, I just chuck 'em in the toaster frozen. You must slice first, they are impossible to slice frozen!

Have you got a Panni as well? I've only got as far as white loaves so far, but am looking forward to doing more with it.

dfw844

InaPickle wrote: »

Have you got a Panni as well? I've only got as far as white loaves so far, but am looking forward to doing more with it.

It's a Kenwood BM450. I wanted a panni as I knew from here they were the best, but DH wanted the kenwood as it is stainless steel and looks a lot better! He's so shallow. Unfortunately he talked me into it by looking cute and saying that a Kenwood BM would be friends with all my other Kenwood appliances because they were made in the same factory. I'm a sucker for a sob story! And it really has been very good.