You pour in the ingredients, push a button, then leave. The machine does all the work.
Bread making isn't typically for the weak hearted. I don't know how many times I failed to make a proper dough- but with this machine it's a snap. Not only does it do all the timing and kneading (which is huge if you love to bake but have a bum shoulder like I do,) but it is also warm inside so the bread actually rises. Non-rising dough has been a recurrent nightmare in my bread baking escapades, so I am extra grateful for the help!
I usually set my machine to the "dough" setting and take the bread dough out before it bakes. My family likes dinner rolls so I ball it up, cover them and let them rise. I love knowing what they are eating and knowing the bread is fresh without unnecessary preservatives and chemicals. It's a priority for me. Not that I wouldn't purchase bread at a store, I am a sane woman after all! I don't pretend to be perfect, but reducing the exposure we have to these chemicals I can't pronounce will surely have a positive effect on our bodies, if not now, then in the long run.
There are many many great recipes out there, here is one of my favorites for white bread, unfortunately I can't find the original poster, but a huge thank you wherever you are:
White Bread
10-12 oz. of warm water (not hot)
2T melted butter
2T dried milk
2T sugar
1 3/4 t. salt
4 cups bread flour
2t. yeast
-put ingredients in bread machine in the order that they are listed. I melt the butter in the microwave because it aids in rising being that it starts warm.
-Start bread maker, set to dough setting
-when the timer goes off signaling the dough is done (my machine takes about an hour and 20 min.) transfer the dough to a greased bread pan or make about a dozen little balls of dough and spread them out on a greased cookie sheet.
-Cover with a wet cloth or with saran wrap sprayed with oil or smeared with butter. Allow to rise for about half an hour or until you feel it's the right size. If it's cold in the house, it might take longer.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min for rolls, bake loaf until golden brown.
a couple hints:
*if after a couple minutes it seems that the dough is too dry, add a little water a T. at a time. If it's dry you will be able to see that there is still flour not incorporated into the ball, or that the ball is too tight (the ball in the video below is actually a little dry, I added a touch of water. If it's too tight of a ball, it won't rise as well.)
*if you want to jazz things up add a clove of minced garlic to the list of ingredients and throw in a handful of cheddar cheese. It's really good, although you may need to add a little water, just keep an eye on consistency.
Happy hot kitchen liaisons!