Help - Don't have a bread machine!

[linder]

There are quite a few recipes (like in the Jan/Feb '01 issue) using bread machines, but I don't have one. How do I make all those yummy breads by hand??

[beejayw1]

Hi, there!

<<How do I make all those yummy breads by hand??>>

Well, I suggest you pull out a cookbook and read the basic bread recipe, then some of the more complicated ones (like, with cheese or herbs). Doing this will give you an idea of how to go about things without a machine. Once you have done that, check out the CL bread recipes and work with the ingredients in the order that the bread recipe calls for.

Generally, you put the yeast in with some liquid (make sure the liquid is no more than wrist temperature) and then mix in the other ingredients. Generally, that is. There are lots of ways to make bread. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Basically the only thing the bread machine does is mix the dough and knead it for you. Once you make bread by yourself from scratch, you'll find it's a piece of cake (so to speak) and never go back to the store-bought kind.

Good luck!
Diana

[funnybone]

linder, if you are not experienced with bread, you may want to look at investing in a bread maker. You can get them for really cheap these days. I bought one almost 4 years ago for about $65 (it's an Oster) and it works great. I've seen them for less now.

I don't use it daily, or even weekly, but when I bake the bread, it smells great. I don't have to worry about waiting for it to rise and having to knead it. I don't have patience for real bread making.

However, if buying the bread maker is not an option right now, I would just experiment with the recipes based on how beejayw1 suggested. There are also some great websites out there with helpful info such as

www.breadworld.com (http://www.breadworld.com)

www.kingarthurflour.com (http://www.kingarthurflour.com)

www.robinhood.ca (http://www.robinhood.ca)

www.breadmachinemagic.com (http://www.breadmachinemagic.com)

www.hodgsonmill.com (http://www.hodgsonmill.com)

www.breadrecipe.com (http://www.breadrecipe.com)

www.breadworksinc.com (http://www.breadworksinc.com)

Good Luck and have fun.

[This message has been edited by funnybone (edited 05-11-2001).]

[Curleytop]

I had a Hitchi Breadmachine for about 5 years until it "died". They no longer make breadmachines. I had paid over $150 for it then. I got an Oster last year in Costco for $49.00. It is great, has a larger capacity (2 lbs). I make a lot of sourdough bread, and I use the dough method, and do the rest by hand. This machine has a 58 minute bread!!! You put in your ingredients and from beginning to the end of baking it takes less than an hour. It is a very nice white bread, makes great toast or sandwiches.

[AD]

As a 19-year-old male, I hate to admit it, but I am too weak to knead by hand. I have a bread machine, but sometimes I find it more convenient to use my Kitchen Aid. If you have an electric mixer with a dough hook, you should be able to get the kneading and mixing done.

[Searcher]

Hi Linder,

I make bread all the time from bread machine recipes. I just tried one last week from a friend's recipe for Champagne bread for those rare times when you have leftover champagne. Came out well and tasted a bit like sourdough.

If you have instant or bread machine yeast you can just add that directly to your recipe. If it's active dry yeast, you need to proof it first in about 1/4 cup of warm water (about 105-110º) and a 1/4 of a teaspoon of sugar. Mix it with a fork until it turns a tan color and let it sit for 5 minutes or until it's bubbly.

You don't add all the flour at once, depending on the recipe I'd add all but the last two cups, then add those 1/4 cup at a time until you feel there's enough flour in it. If you're an experienced bread baker then you'll be able to feel when it's had enough flour.

If you need any help with any of the breads in the magazines, feel free to email me at SearcherBB@aol.com

[linder]

Thanks for all your help everyone! Funny thing is that today I came across a bread machine at a garage sale for only $28 in excellent condition! I can't wait to use it! But, I do still like to make some things by hand so I will surely check out those websites. Thanks again!