Help With Making Bread

shoeaddict

Hi guys

I am a newbie to the forum, and am really keen to start seeing my shopping budget go further each week. I have made a good start with smarter shopping, but I am interested in starting to make my own bread. Thing is, I'm not too sure where to start!

I've never done it before, plus I'm gluten-intolerant (although I can eat small amounts with no ill-effect) so I'm not sure if it's really an option. Do I need to buy a bread maker or special mix, and is there actually any savings to be had?

Sorry to be so utterly clueless, but I know that you guys are brilliant at answering questions :j Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks so much

boo81

You dont need a breadmaker but you will need to do some research into where you can buy flours to use for gluten intolerance.

I think especially for you there should be savings to be made as the specialist diet stuff is expensive and im sure some playing around with the recipes they will taste better than supermarket ones.

You can buy mixes to make it easier but they are much more expensive, it might get you used to the process to start with though and help you on your way. I would recommend a good special diet recipe book as a start

shoeaddict

Thanks boo81. My sister uses a good wheat-free flour so I might start with that. Will do a bit of research as well. Wish me luck!

Emmy33

Hi!

I would definitely recommend getting a bread machine purely due to convenience, although make sure you buy one with a rapid bake setting because otherwise it can take up to 4 hours! I have a Kenwood one, which makes a loaf in 1 hour on the rapid setting. You can buy dried yeast that is specifically designed for bread machines (I use Allinson Easy Bake yeast, which is available from most supermarkets).

I don't think I save that much money by making my own bread because I end up eating loads because it is so nice! It's great to be able to have fresh bread whenever you want it and you can easily freeze what you don't use.

I think you can get gluten-free flour for bread machines, although I have never used it myself so I don't know how well it would work.

liz545

The basic white bread recipe in Nigella Lawsons Domestic Goddess is a great place to start - check it out of your library if you can (there's a short version here http://80breakfasts.blogspot.com/2005/12/my-daily-bread.html). Dove's Farm do an organic gluten free bread flour in white or brown varieties that you should be able to get in your local health food shop. HTH!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there
I make my own bread using -
300ml warm water - or part water/milk if you want a softer crust
1oz butter...you can use a splash of oil but i prefer butter
500g bread flour
1 sachet yeast
and about 1tbs salt
some people add a bit of sugar, but i was told by a baker that you really only need that if its fresh yeast... also he told me that he never adds his salt until he is near the end of the kneading process as bread rises better that way... i just have to remember to put the salt pot near the machine so i dont forget ..... i use a bread machine to mix the dough (only because my kenwood mixer died on me :-!!....but i still shape mine into a tin and bake it in the oven....
i could live on it....hot bread with proper butter and home boiled beetroot mmmmmmmm
Oh and if anyone wants it i have a recipe for onion bread...that is addictive...
i think once you start making your own bread.... shop stuff just doesnt come close...

shoeaddict

Thanks so much all of you - you're making me hungry now! Still not sure whether to get a bread machine or not - I do work quite long hours in the week (excuses excuses!) so it might be more convenient but I don't know. Can anyone recommend a good starter machine that's not too expensive?

Lots to think about!

Nicki

My DD was on a gluten-free period for a while, and I used to buy a gluten-free bread mix and make her bread for her. It tasted much nicer than the commercial gluten-free breads but not as good as the real Mccoy! I used a breadmaker for ease, but you could also just make it in the oven.

There are recipies for gluten-free breads not made from a mix out there, but the ingredients can be tricky to get hold of, and often you need a combination of flours, so I never bothered with these. From what I've read its not always as simple as just swopping out ordinary flour for gluten-free stuff and following a standard recipe, though it may be worth trying this once to see if it works. You will find that different gluten-free products vary wildly in palatability so when you find one you like, stick with it and stock up!

If you google, there are (or used to be) some good websites with gluten-free recipes and it might also be worth getting a decent book from the library to have an experiment. I have to be honest though, and say it was quite a difficult diet to cook for, and I was never totally happy with the results. If needs must for health reasons though, I can see why you would want to give it a try.

shoeaddict

Thanks Nicki - that's all really useful to know. I saw that Lakeland ltd does a gluten free bread mix so I might give it a go. Or I could just bake normal bread and not eat so much!

One of the reasons I wanted to have a go at making my own is because supermarket gluten free bread is so revolting! In fact, most supermarket gluten free stuff is pretty horrid in my experience.

Sugar_Junkie

Bread Machines are definitely easier and helpful but not a necessity. I'd love one but can't afford it so I make it all from scratch. I don't have a mixer either but it only takes a little longer kneading it yourself. It's really only the rising that takes time and the dough does that by itself

I don't use the bread mixes so not sure what they're like but I do use the fast action dried yeast which cuts out some of the bother. All you need to do with it is tip it straight into the flour so I recommend that whole heartedly!

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

Hi shoeaddict
My mum has made gluten free bread for loads of people over the years & has found the Juvela gluten free bread mix to be the nicest. (I rang her & got the details for you). She uses a Kenwood mixer but the website has the details for using a bread-maker. The mix comes with a sachet of yeast. She thinks it costs over £4 a bag but thinks you can get it on prescription. The exact recipe is on the bag but you need: bread mix, hot water, oil (she used olive oil)
Firstly prepare:

• Put on a double radiatior somewhere in the house (for the yeast rising later).
• Measure out your oil.
• Have hot water ready by the time you need it (boil a kettle, or have tap water on to heat)
• Grease 2 * 1lb non-stick loaf tins (non-stick is less fussy then using lining paper!)

She used a Kenwood mixer but I’m sure you could adapt details to suit yourself.

• Put “flour” mix & the yeast into the bowl & mix with an ordinary spoon, then make a “well” in the centre – but not right down to the bottom.
• Put the oil & hot water into the well (she said to have the water a bit hotter than recipe says as it cools down as soon as it hits the bowl)
• Mix using the dough hook for about 5 mins, (starting off low to stop the flour going up the sides.)
• Put into the 2 bread tins, using scales to have fairly equal amounts in both. It’s very sticky so you can’t really smooth it but try to get it out into the corners.
• Put cling film on top of each tin & put on top of a radiator for 20 mins. Put oven on to heat. Once mix has risen & is nearly touching the cling-film, remove the cling film & put in the oven to bake - middle of oven.

DON'T open the door till its done! When done, rest in tins for few mins on a wire rack before turning out.
One of the loaves can be frozen while you eat the other! She says that the feedback she's had is that it quite different to normal bread in that it's quite dry but a million times better than the gluten-free bread you buy.
HTH