Comment

John Hiatt - Shredding the Document

238
calochortus5/30/2014 8:33:32 am PDT

re: #185 CuriousLurker

*sigh* No, the only stores in these parts are ShopRite & Pathmark, and SR has the better bakery/deli. The only other options are dinky little grocery stores (like C-Town and Bravo) that are awful.

I bought a bread machine a few months ago, but haven’t used it yet. I have all the ingredients I could possibly need—a jar of yeast; whole wheat, rye, and unbleached bread flours; sesame, poppy, flax, and raw sunflower seeds—the only thing lacking is a good, tested recipe.

Like Kirkspencer, I use a mixer rather than a bread machine, but his advice is sound. Pick a recipe and just try it. Chances are good the bread will be edible but imperfect. Play with it.
Basically you need flour, water, a bit of salt, and yeast. Subbing in some milk for the water gives a softer ‘crumb’ (good for sandwiches-not for a nice chewy baguette.)
Different flours and additives (herbs, cheese, etc.) give different flavors, but may make the bread rise less well just because the more stuff in there that isn’t gluten-y and forming pockets for air, the less rise to the loaf.

Go for it!