i want to make bread!

[SouthPaw]

and i know nothing. absolutely nothing.

do i need a bread machine?

can i make it healthy while still pleasing my "no nasty wheat bread" husband?

can i make sandwich bread or is homemade bread just loafy crusty things?

:help what is the bare minimum i need to know?

[ArmsOfLove]

you can make it in the oven though, imo, even a cheap bread machine is well worth the money ;) Though some people love kneading and making bread in the oven. I only do gf bread so I'll let someone else give links or info :)

[SouthPaw]

i think i want to go for Least Effort Possible :giggle

[ArmsOfLove]

that would be the bread machine :giggle We even travel with ours (and pre-packaged bread mixes we do up :rockon)

[herbalwriter]

I heartily approve the bread machine. And if you don't like the funky-shaped loaves it produces, you can put it on the dough cycle and then just shape it into a loaf, let it rise a bit, and bake it. :yum It looks more homemade that way too. :P~
I always put my bread machine on the dough cycle. Sometimes I shape it into rounds so I don't have to slice. :shifty

If you want to save money, I have found that pre-packaged mixes aren't much savings if you make bread at home - but if you're travelling, like AOL said, I can see them being a big savings over restaurant fare! :yes

[SouthPaw]

:jump so any recommendations on machines? like what thingies it needs to have? good brands? i would just go buy the cheapest one possible but i don't necessarily want to miss out on anything super useful that the next level or two up might have (do bread machines come in levels? :giggle )

[herbalwriter]

I have a Sunbeam - it was a birthday present, but I don't think it was more than $60. It's model 5891 so you could look it up online. I love love love it - it can handle hand-ground wheat, which says a lot. :yes

[hiddenhippie6]

I myself do not like the bread from the machines. I use my Kichen Aid to knead make mine. I LOVE the way it turns out.

Here is how I do it.

4 tsp yeast (at room temp) = 2pks
2 tsp salt
1/3 c oil
1/3 c sugar or honey
2 eggs
2c warm water

6 1/2 c flour

With Kitchen Aid:
Mix on #2 the first 6 ingredients together with 3 cups of flour using the paddle for 10 min.

Add the remaining flour and mix with the dough hook for 10 more minutes on #2. You should not go higher than #2 on your Kitchen Aid with bread dough.

Set aside in a warm place with a damp towel covering it. Let it rise until it doubles in size. About 20-30min.

Oil hands and surface. Separate the dough into two equal parts. Shape one half into a loaf and "spank" it to get out the air bubbles. Repeat with the other half. Put in pans and let it rise again in the fridge. About one hour. This dough can remain in the fridge for up to 24hours.

Bake at 375 for 30-35min.

** I went back and checked my book. (By the way I took this from an old LLL cook book called Mother's in The Kitchen :heart )
Anywhoo, It is also optional to add 1C Wheat Germ and if you want you can do half white flour half wheat flour and replace the honey/sugar with molasses to make wheat bread. They also had a high protein version where you replaced one cup of the white flour with soy flour, add 6T powdered milk, and 2T wheat germ. You would add all of that to the first mixing.

[herbalwriter]

I have a Kitchen Aid. I might try that!