Home Made Bread 1

Well I made this loaf last Friday night when I got home from work in the bread machine. I used a different recipe from one of my many books - recipe as below. This loaf was made using Allinson bread machine yeast and Allinsons white bread flour. The recipe was for the largest sized loaf and yet it only seems to have made a medium sized loaf. I am putting this down to the flour as I have noticed a vast difference between the flours. The best flour so far has been the Waitrose Canadian Extra Strong White Bread flour which can also be used to make pasta. It nearly came out of the pan and the resulting bread was very light and tasty. I am going to have a go and play some more. As the loaf above although not bad, seemed a little heavy.

Here is the recipe I used. Next time round though I am going to use this recipe with the Waitrose Extra Strong White Plain flour and see if there is much difference between them - I think there will be.

WHITE BREAD
This is an all purpose white bread recipe which forms the basis for experimenting with the flours and making small adjustments to quantities if you think it requires them. I am after a good all round recipe for my machine at the end of the day - so please if you have a go or adjust the basic measurements and it turns out okay for you please let me and everyone else know - your feedback will be welcomed and in a round about way we will be helping each other.

Anyway here's the recipe

Ingredients For a Small Loaf


210ml/7 1/2 fl oz/scant cup water
375g/13oz/3 1/4 cups unbleached white bread flour
7.5 ml/1 1/2 tsp salt
15ml/1 tablespoon granulated sugar
25g/1oz/2 tablespoons of butter
5ml/1 teaspoon easy blend dried yeast (rapid rise)
Unbleached white bread flour for dusting

Ingredients for a Medium sized loaf
320ml/11 1/3 fl oz/generous 1 1/3 cups water
500g/1lb 2 oz/4 1/2 cups unbleached white bread flour
7.5 ml/1 1/2 tsp salt
15ml/1 tablespoon granulated sugar
25g/1 oz/2 tablespoons of butter
5ml/1 tsp easy blend dried yeast
unbleached white bread flour for dusting

Ingredients for a Large Loaf
420ml/15 fl oz/generous 1 3/4 cups water
675g/1 1/2 lb/6 cups unbleached white bread flour
10 ml/2 tsp salt
22ml/1 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
40g/1 1/2 oz/3 tablespoons of butter
7.5 ml/1 1/2 tsp easy blend dried yeast
Unbleached white bread flour for dusting

Makes 1 loaf of the relevant size

Method

Choose which sized loaf you would like to make

Pour into your bread machine pan the water. However if your bread machine instructions specify a different order for placing in the ingredients please follow their directions.

Sprinkle over the flour ensuring that it covers the water. Add the salt, sugar and butter in separate corners of the pan. Make a small indent in the centre of the flour pile (but not down as far as the liquid) and add in the yeast.

Set the bread machine to its basic/normal setting with a medium crust. Press start to activate the machine.

Remove the bread at the end of the cycle and turn it out on a wire rack to cool. I always cover with a clean tea towel whilst cooling.

N.B. A richer golden crust can be given to the bread with the addition of dried skimmed milk powder (non fat dry milk).

For a small loaf you will need 15ml/1 tablespoon
For a medium loaf you will need 22ml/1 1/2 tablespoon
For a large loaf 30ml/2 tablespoons.

I used a Panasonic bread machine with Allinsons white bread flour and Allinsons easy blend dried yeast (not granular).

Happy playing

N.B. By the way if your house is nice and warm at the time of making the bread it will rise even more - try and keep away from any drafts as this also has a knock on effect.