Take Your Bread Machine Out and Use It

What's holding you back from using your bread machine? Is it gathering dust on your kitchen counter or taking up room in that cupboard? Maybe you got it as a gift and never really used it or perhaps the bread you made didn't turn out quite right. Whatever the reasons you're not using your bread maker, give it another try. It's the easiest way to make delicious homemade bread.

Using a bread machine is simple. The most important tip is to measure ingredients exactly, according to the recipe. This is probably the step where many people get things wrong. Baking bread is not like cooking up a few vegetables or a pot of stew. You can't "eyeball" how much of this or that ingredient that you need and you can't add ingredients "to taste", except after a bit of practice.

The amounts of ingredients called for in bread maker recipes have been worked out so the result is a nicely browned loaf of bread. Using too much or too little of any ingredient can ruin the loaf. If you use too much leavening agent, the top may cave in. If you use too much yeast the same thing might happen and the bread may have an off flavor.

It's easy to measure out the ingredients correctly. Use a liquid measuring cup with a spout for liquids so you can pour in exactly 1 1/8 cup water, for instance. For dry ingredients take a large spoon, like a soup spoon, and lightly spoon the flour or sugar into a measuring cup. Over fill the cup and use a knife-edge to even out the top, scraping off the excess. Do the same with other powders, like baking soda and dried milk.

The best way to make sure you use your bread machine to the fullest is to find a few recipes that you really like. Not every recipe will be enjoyed by all, but there's sure to be a couple standard recipes that will prevail. Once you have it down pat, people will ask you to make more bread!

But that's not all your bread maker can do. Most bread machines are programmable so they can make cakes, fruit jam or pizza dough. If you'd really like to shape your own bread, rolls, or bread sticks, you can set it so the machine stops after the dough is prepared. Then all you have to do is shape the dough as you wish and bake it in your oven.

Naomi Gallagher is a writer and a fantastic cook with a love for machines that help her make the most of her time in the kitchen. Making homemade bread has become one of her specialties. Learn more by visiting her sites where she likes to write about making bread and cooking great food: http://boschstandmixer.com and http://breadmachinepizzadough.com.

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Make Cinnamon Bread Rolls

Cinnamon bread rolls are delectable treats that you can eat during coffee breaks, at parties and on other special occasions. You can enjoy these with family and friends. There are different flavors to enjoy. The good thing about making a cinnamon bread roll recipe is that the dough can be filled, shaped, mixed and frozen. You can make more and just thaw these before serving. These can be prepared in just a few minutes, perfect for breakfast.

The Ingredients

To make the cinnamon bread rolls, you will need 1 cup of milk, heated about 1 minute inside the microwave oven, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, 1/4 cup of warm water about 110 degrees F, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 cup of butter, 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of vital wheat gluten, 5 cups of bread flour, cinnamon filling, butter frosting and 3 teaspoons of active dry yeast.

Using a Bread Machine

Add all needed ingredients, except for the butter frosting and cinnamon filling, inside the bread pan of the bread machine. Process everything based on the instructions given by the manufacturer for a dough setting. When the dough cycle has been completed by the bread machine, take out the dough from the pan and place on a lightly oiled surface. Use a non-stick cooking spray. Form the dough into an oval shape, then cover using a plastic wrap. Allow everything to rest for 10 minutes.

Check the dough. Make sure that it forms a solid but elastic ball. If the dough is too moist, you may add more flour, one tablespoon at a time. If the dough is gnarly and dry, you may add warm water, one tablespoon at a time. If looking is not enough, you can stick your finger into the dough. Ideally, it should be tacky.

The Standup Mixer

If you are using a standup mixer. Mix all the ingredients according to the instructions given, except for the butter frosting and cinnamon filling. Use a dough hook, then mix all the ingredients together until you form a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly oiled surface. Use non-stick cooking spray. Knead the dough until it becomes elastic for about 10 minutes. Cover the bowl using plastic wrap then allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Using a Food Processor

Place the dry mixture inside the processing bowl. While the motor is running, you may add eggs, butter and liquid ingredients. Process everything until well-mixed. Continue processing the ingredients, then add more flour until you form a soft ball. Turn the dough onto a lightly oiled surface. Use non-stick cooking spray, then knead until the dough becomes elastic. Cover the bowl using plastic wrap and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Next Tips

Beginning with the long edge, roll the dough up, pinching the seams to seal. Rolling the log very tightly will lead to cinnamon rolls with the centers popped up over the rest as these bake. You can add the flavors according to your personal preference.

Homemade Bread Making Hints and Tips

If you want to bake homemade bread successfully, you have to understand that there are different available types. You need to know how each one appears and follow the guidelines that will lead to the best quality, flavor and texture. Homemade breads have been formulated by families for hundreds of years. Here's your chance to finally whip out your own recipe.

About Industrial Bread

The difference between homemade bread recipes with commercial ones is that commercialized bread is made to have uniform substance and texture, to be produced on a massive scale and to have just enough shelf-life for you to keep returning to the grocery. Excessive amounts of yeast help produce a lot of bubbles inside the bread, which leads to the light texture of the bread. Lower quality grains are also used and can lack the essential nutrients. The main goal of commercialized bread is to be produced as cheaply as possible to earn the highest profit.

Preservatives may also be used to help boost shelf life, which reduces manufacturing cost. Some of the ingredients you need to be cautious about include high fructose corn syrup, calcium dioxide, datem, ethoxylated mono and diglycerides, dicalcium phosphate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, calcium propionate, soy lecithin, ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate.

Advantages of Being Homemade

Homemade bread has the advantage of having high quality ingredients, better flavor, taste and texture and longer shelf life. You put in the right materials into the mix to ultimately create the best-tasting bread. Some of the things you need to know are that different flours function differently too. Try to make whole wheat bread or rye bread. The flour will also have various properties. Add the flour slowly into the bowl until it barely sticks to your hands. Whole wheat flour will need one-half cup less flour compared to white flour.

When making Italian bread, substitute salt with garlic salt. Add the Italian seasonings like rosemary and oregano before you begin to stir. Double the recipe to make two loaves of bread instead. You get to save more time and effort too. Try to experiment with different ingredients. You may want to work on pizza dough and cinnamon rolls later on.

Shopping for Ingredients

When making your homemade bread, you can shop for ingredients in different places to get only the best quality ingredients. You can actually search the internet and have some materials and ingredients shipped right to your doorstep. You can even have starters sent. You should also visit different groceries and supermarkets and look at the difference between breads. Try to determine the special ingredients that bakers add to get the appearance, flavor and texture you want.

Feel free to add condiments and other sweeteners to make special kinds of homemade bread. It will also require some more techniques to get the right crust and make toast bread. Depending on the kind of bread you want, you will have to employ different techniques and tools. Homemade bread is convenient, easy and cheap, so enjoy the experience and learn every step of the way.

Making Whole Wheat Breads

Whole wheat bread requires 4 processes to be successfully made, namely mixing, kneading, rising and baking. All these processes can be done by hand, using a mixer, via a bread machine or using a food processor. Whole wheat breads can be 100% or mixed with other types of flour, such as white flour. Regardless of the ingredients and additional materials you use, make sure you follow the steps carefully to yield the best results.

About the Mixing Process

The food processor may be the best among all your options, since you can easily throw in all the needed ingredients, thereby cutting time and saving energy. Put all the flour, salt, vital wheat gluten, yeast, sugar and salt into the bowl. Only add the sugar now if you are using granulated sugar, instead of the liquid type like molasses. You can yeast-proof by dissolving it in 1/2 cup of warm water, together with a pinch of sugar. Add it to the liquid ingredients. The rising process can be jump started to reduce total rising time by 30 minutes. Add the lecithin and oil after all dry ingredients are mixed. Add about 1 cup of ice water.

The Kneading Process

The kneading process is considered to be the most important part of the whole bread making activity. You have to ensure that you do enough kneading, avoid using too much flour or water and develop the gluten properly in the wheat. To check if you have the right amount of flour and water, moisten your hand then put it inside the dough then squeeze. The dough should not resist your touch and strain the finger muscles. It should not also have a runny liquid feature or seem waterlogged. It is possible to knead too much, especially if you are using a food processor. Practice how to properly add water as you knead to get the perfect consistency.

The Rising Process

The dough should not be placed in a greased bowl. Have the right developed gluten will lead to the dough not sticking to the bowl or pot. Use a 4-quart pot. Once the dough is inside the pot, cover using the lid. The dough has to stay warm for about 2 hours or up to the time it has doubled its size. If you stick your fingers into the dough and it does not rise, the rising process is completed. After the second rising, put the loaf inside the bread pan.

Baking the Bread

Preheat your oven 400 degrees F. Transfer the loaf slowly into the oven. Bake for about 45 minutes. Use a thermometer to ensure that you have the right heat. Once the baking is done, take the bread out then let cool in a rack, covered with a towel. After the cooling process, slice the loaf of bread then observe the texture. This is the best time to eat the bread, while it is still warm and soft. Measure the ingredients properly to make more loaves as needed.

Making Cinnamon Bread Rolls

Cinnamon bread rolls are very easy and fun to make. You can use different tools and equipment to prepare the ingredients. You can also add the different flavors and spices to give it more uniqueness and creativity. You will find that there are several variations that you can develop over time. You can also practice making your own recipes of butter frosting and cinnamon fillings. Here are some more tips for the experts.

Working the Dough

Start with the long edge of the dough, then roll it up. Pinch the seams to seal. Rolling to log very tightly will cause the cinnamon rolls with the centers popping up higher than the rest as these bake. Using a knife, lightly mark the roll into 1 1/2 inch sections. Use a sharp knife or slide a 12-inch piece of heavy thread or dental floss below. Bring the ends of the floss up and criss-cross these over every mark. You can cut right through the roll by pulling the strings in opposite directions. Place the cut side up in a ready pan, then flatten these slightly. The unbaked cinnamon rolls must not touch each other before these rise and bake. Do not pack the cinnamon bread rolls together.

The Unbaked Cinnamon Rolls

You can now cover the cinnamon rolls in plastic wrap then refrigerate it overnight. You can also leave it frozen for a month. Before you bake, let the rolls thaw completely, then rise in a warm place if frozen. You may need to take out the unbaked rolls out of the freezer 10 to 12 hours before baking. Place the frozen cinnamon rolls on the counter overnight to prepare.

If you are using refrigerated rolls, you can let these bake once you take them out of the refrigerator or let them go down to room temperature. The rolls may slowly rise overnight. You do not need to let the rolls come to room temperature before you bake. If the rolls are not rising high enough after refrigeration, the yeast must be tested. Let these rise while being left on the counter, until you reach the ideal height.

Baking

After you make the bread, cover then let it rise in a warm place for about 45 to 60 minutes or until these have doubled in size. After the rolls rise, these should be touching each other as well as the sides of the pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F if you are using a regular oven or 325 degrees F if you are using a convection oven. Bake inside the convection oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, until you notice a light golden brown color. Bake inside a regular oven for about 20 to 25 minutes until you see a light golden brown color.

Take these out of the oven and allow to cool slightly. You can spread butter frosting over the cinnamon rolls while these are still warm. Feel free to add condiments as you like. Cinnamon filling and butter frosting can also be added at room temperature.

Bread Makers Buying Advice

Anyone who has owned a bread maker will tell you that not all recipes and also that not every bread maker are most likely to produce a good loaf, but you can look out for the extra features offered by them which can be decisive of buying the correct one. You will also find variation in what recipes are suited to your type of bread maker.

If you decide to start experimenting and creating your own recipes then be prepared for a few mistakes! The best thing technology has provided to kitchens is the pre-programmed cycle in the devices which doesn't let your bread get ruined with incorrect manual settings!

The most popular type of bread maker is the type that have an automated programs pre-set for various types of bread and also automated mixing mechanism that will mix the dough and all the dry ingredients for you - all you do is put in both wet and dry mixture, select the type of bread and finish you want (settings really vary so you have to experiment with your machine) and the off it goes mixing and cooking when it needs to.

You can read about our bread makers buyers guide here for some more in depth information The standard bread maker bread mix is ideal as a base for playing around. Try using this mix and adding a handful of mixed nuts and a tablespoon of honey for a nice sweet nutty bread. Some things to avoid putting in your bread maker consist of the things you would expect like avoid adding too much extra oil (olive oil works best), seriously avoid too much yeast! or you will have a major over flow, you can add a bit extra but not much more than stated.

If you are adding lots of heavy extra ingredients to a normal bread maker recipe then you will need some extra yeast but never more than 25% of the original amount. You can also try adding fried onion pieces and extra salt for an onion bread but the onion needs to be fried off well and in thin slivers.

My favourite recipe for my bread maker is a garlic and tomato bread using slices of fried garlic, a tablespoon of olive oil and slices of sundried tomato. You should always look for a bread maker with removable parts as they can be tricky to clean - also make sure the one you have has an auto switch off in case the bread over heats. You also want one with a viewing window so you can actually view your loaf getting cooked in the machine without switching it off.

Julie Davies is a technology writer an writes on various subjects relating to gadgets for the home, digital cameras and home appliances. She is currently working for a home appliance magazine publisher and writing articles for http://www.homeapplianceoffers.co.uk/

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