There's nothing quite like the aroma of a loaf of fresh bread baking in the oven. Real estate agents are now suggesting that when prospective house-buyers visit, ensure that you have some bread on the bake!
Bread, being the staple that it is in North America, can get rather boring. With the advent of bread machines that are increasingly becoming and less expensive but improved, there's no need to run to the grocery store for another dry loaf of bread... not when you can make so many different and tasty kinds right in your own home, and enjoy the pleasure of making it yourself (the aroma is nothing to 'sniff' at either).
I've enjoyed making bread myself for about a year now, and decided to share a few recipes for machines after discovering that I could make unique loafs from a simple white-bread recipe. Any recipe you find here can be changed to whatever your heart (or craving) desires... but be sure to expect that your results will vary. The following recipes are for Canadian flour and 1 lb models, but can be made in any size machine (I'll consider adding recipes for 1.5 lb and 2 lb models later).
Basic White Bread Recipe (Typical machine recipe)
Add in the order your machine instructions suggest:
| Water | 8 oz |
| White flour | 2 cups |
| Butter | 1.5 Tbsp |
| Dry milk | 1 Tbsp |
| Sugar | 1.5 Tbsp |
| Salt | 1 tsp |
| Yeast | 2 tsp |
Now, let's get a little creative with this basic loaf by adding a few common ingredients to get an extra-special bread that's not just for making sandwiches.
Sundried Tomato and Cheese
If you don't want the cheese to be chunky, add it when the initial ingredients are put in.
After it's baked, allow to cool about 20 minutes before slicing. This bread is great for deli-sliced ham or chicken sandwiches, or eating with soups or casseroles.
Add to the bread machine pan the ingredients of the Basic White Bread Recipe in the order suggested by your machine's manufacturer. Optional: Add any spices at this point, for example rosemary, parsley, or thyme. Start the machine on either 'regular' or 'rapid' cycle, whichever one allows for ingredients to be added later. Meanwhile, chop up 4 or 5 sundried tomatoes, I prefer using the ones in spiced oil. You can use a food processor for smaller chunks, depending on your preference. Cube about a cup (total) of cheddar, mozzarella, swiss, and marble cheeses. Add the whole lot (cheese and tomatoes) at the prompt for chunky ingredients.
Pizza Bread
If you want, you can add anything you'd normally put on a pizza, but keep in mind that canned mushrooms will contain a little water as will pineapple, olives, green peppers, etc. so adjust the water amount accordingly. Tiny cubed ham is a tasty addition.
Wait about 20 minutes before you try slicing this bread. It's great used for making grilled cheese, or eating with soup, salads, or stews.
Add to the bread machine pan the ingredients of the Basic White Bread Recipe in the order suggested by your machine's manufacturer, except instead of adding plain water, put about 8 tablespoons of spaghetti sauce in your measuring cup and then adding the water to the cup until it comes up to the 8 oz mark. Add about a teaspoon of each of the following: oregano, parsley, rosemary. Start the bread machine to whatever cycle allows for ingredients to be added later. Cube about a cup of mozzarella cheese, and add at the beeps for chunky additions.