There's a first for everything. I mentioned to my mom that I was considering purchasing a bread machine. Since hers was just sitting at the house not being used, she loaned it to me. Thanks mom! It sat at my house also not being used for a while until the other week when I decided to give it a try. Frankly, I was getting tired of paying $3.99 for a small loaf of organic bread, and the bread machine recipes looked simple enough.
I did it. The bread turned out wonderful. I Googled and found a recipe on
allrecipes.com called "Best Bread Machine Bread" that was given a 4 1/2 star rating by over 1,100 people. That was 3 weeks ago, and I haven't bought bread since. My first two loafs were basic white. I've got to get a little more adventurous though and try some other types using the machine. I purchased a bag of 100% whole wheat flour with a recipe on the bag that I had to try. It called for molasses and orange juice as ingredients. I treated myself to a beautiful, red glazed, Le Creuset stoneware, bread pan (just $11.99 from Ross) and made my first loaf from scratch. And, it didn't stop there. I made pizza dough the other night. I've got Abigail interest piqued also. She found a recipe for bagels in a cookbook for kids that she wants us to try.
It's not just a first for making bread. There have been many firsts for me over the last year...a first for trying to understand what's in the food we eat, for planting a garden, for cooking from scratch, for appreciating good cookware, for planning menus, and now, for baking bread. What's next? I'm considering canning this summer. Yikes! All this from someone that has never enjoyed being in the kitchen! Who knew?
7 comments:
Congratulations! There is nothing like homemade bread, and it's great Abigail is getting in on it! What a great way to spend time together. I canned homemade apple sauce and apple butter 2 years in a row. It's not hard, just time consuming.
Keep cooking! Susan
Homemade bread is the best! It makes the house smell fantastic too. Keep it up!
Hi!!
I read your blog all the time, but I have never posted. But I must to say - try canning!! Start with making jam. I don't know why everybody thinks it's hard. It's really easy, fun, rewarding and makes GREAT gifts. There are lots of good books and websites that give easy to follow instructions.
Do yourself a favor and try the first time using pectin (I like the liquid). Once you get the hang of it, you can try recipes that are a bit trickier for setting up. But give yourself the sure-fire pleasure the first time of having a batch of beautiful jars of jam.
And one more note - if there is anywhere near you where you can pick fruit (e.g., a U-pick strawberry patch) that's the very best. Take you daughter to the patch, pick berries and eat them 'til your fingers are stained red, then go home and make a batch of jam. Then send a jar to grandma and your nice neighbor down the street. It's GREAT FUN!!
Love your blog.
Sue
Sue, welcome! Thanks for posting a comment. Jam sounds lovely! And yes, there are lots of places in NC to pick strawberries and blueberries in the summer and apples in the fall. What a perfect compliment to my homemade bread!
If last year is an indication, I've also got to do something with all of the tomatoes that will come from my garden.
MAke homemade salsa with all the tomatoes! My mom did that with hers and it was delicious. Julie
I am about to purchase a bread machine and try a hand at this too!
Have fun Lisa! Hot bread from a bread machine is wonderful!
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