My First Loaf of Bread

      I can't actually post this post until the bread I'm making is out of the bread maker, sliced, and tasted. I'm literally waiting for it to bake, but while I do, I thought I would go over the thoughts I had when I opened the box to pull out the new machine and start using it. I think I chose the right machine. I could tell when I lifted the box it was in, that it was going to be just the right size. It weighs about 10 pounds and can make a good-sized 2-pound loaf.  That will feed my daughter and I about 3 sandwiches each.

    Since I wanted the bread maker to make different types of bread, I'm sort of laughing at myself for making the first loaf a very simple white loaf instead of something really cool and exotic. I am using all-purpose flour and monk fruit rather than sugar. I am using grapeseed oil and butter, so there's that. I'll let you know how it turns out, and if it doesn't -- well, there are plenty of birds outside that won't mind cleaning up my mess.

    The Elite Gourmet machine is about $70 on Amazon. If it had been at Walmart, they were selling them for $66, but it wasn't there, so there you go - same difference really. I also ordered a really cool bread recipe book, and it came at the same time. I glanced through it and will pick up everything I need to make zucchini bread, oatmeal bread, orange-cranberry-walnut bread, and cinnamon-raisin bread, too. I'm pretty excited about it, and if I get really good at it, I'll start giving some away to friends when they ask for loaves.

    I wasn't happy that I couldn't simply pull out the basket when the machine arrived. It was really difficult to get out of the machine. I watched a YouTube video, and it looked easy. What I laughed about, and had to show my daughter, is that the sweet man who made the video said to his audience, "If you have to get your husband to do it for you, you might ask him for his help, it's not that easy at first."  Once the machine has been used a few times, I think it eases up, but he cracked me up with that one. I let Laura know she was the closest thing I had to a husband -she was ready to help, but I managed to get it out without too many tries. (I did cuss once)

    I watched three separate videos about the mechanics of it all, and after the third one (all less than 5 minutes), I was ready to make my first loaf.  I'll share the very simple recipe I used and walk you through it. You don't want the yeast to touch the liquid; once it does, it begins to activate, so be sure it's the last thing you add before closing the lid.  BEFORE you mix your ingredients, put the stir-handle or paddle into the basket, and set the basket in place before pouring everything into it.

• 1-3/4 cups of warm water
• 2 tablespoons of oil (I used grapeseed)
• 2 tablespoons of butter - room temp
• 1.5 teaspoons of salt
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (I used monk fruit)
• 4 cups of flour (I used all-purpose)
• 2 teaspoons of dry active yeast (pellets)

That's it, and in that order. When you add the yeast, make a small dent or hole to pour it into so it doesn't touch the liquid.

     You make sure the basket is secure, and you close the lid. On top of the lid are all the buttons to make the thing work. You go in order there as well. Menu — find the number at the top of the machine that matches what you are making. I chose #1 because it is a basic loaf of bread. Then you choose the size, 2 pounds. Then you choose the color (I went with medium) and press Start. The machine literally programs itself. Mine went to 3:00 (3 hours), and when you hit start, the mixing stage begins.

    

    The slight roar lets you know that it's working. You hear it spin, knead, and move around. You can open the lid and watch. I did that for a minute to be sure I was doing it right. Then, you literally let it go - wait -- and it does it all. I mix the ingredients, push a few buttons, and bam....done. I'm hoping for a nice little loaf of bread in about 2.5 hours, and I'll let it cool, slice it, spread a little butter and honey on it, and post it. If it sucks, it sucks, but I think it will be fine.

    I just checked on it. I have 2:09 to go (hours and minutes), and the first cycle is over. It beeped quite a bit to say it was changing gears from kneading to rising or something -- it's spinning now. I took a little video and posted it on Facebook. My friends know I'm odd, so they're used to it-- but hey, it's exciting.  My little kitchen will be so much fun. I can make pizza dough, cakes, yogurt, jams -- I'm just going to go crazy, I can tell you that.  I'm so happy right now.

    

    OK, nothing left to do but wait and give you the full update once it's finished. 

THERE YOU GO - it's not bad. It's not GREAT, but it' snot bad. I hit 1.5 pounds instead of 2 so it's a little under cooked, but has the consistency of dinner rolls from a restaurant. I'll finish this one in a couple of days and do it again!

I LOVE IT. 

Photo Credit: Me!