Does Anyone Make Their Own Bread? (Result is in)
Other
I always promised myself that when i retired i would put Paul Hollywoods bread making book to good use. Well, today's the day!
I have carefully followed his directions for a bloomer and it is now proving for the first time.
It is healthier than shop bought and yesterday i made soup so am hoping to have a nice bit of buttered bread with it later today
Do you make your own or have any tips for me? Success or failure i will post a pic later when it is baked.
I use to make my own bread just because I own a bread making machine but have not made any recently. I got a soup maker too. I use to find some yeast were bad or did not rise so I did some testing here and there and found one that did work. Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread.
Emerge11 I have got Allinsons strong bread flour and their yeast too. I have been very careful with measurements and kneaded for longer than it said (he said beginners probably need to knead longer). It has been two hours but has not risen much although he said can take up to 3 hours, keeping my fingers crossed.
I paid out for a soup maker too but could never get it quite right so I now do it on hob. Leek and potato yesterday and only took 30 mins total. I also liquidised some chicken and veg stew that was done in the slow cooker.
Can you remember what yeast you used?
Lynibis I got the Tefal Soup Maker and It never fails. I believe I had the Allinsons Yeast and I could not get on with It as the main problem was It just didnt rise or rise enough. I then went to ASDA and found the easy bake Yeast worked. You get 6x7g sachets. Never had a problem with that. The way to check If your Yeast Is alive Is by the bubbles. When you dissolve the Yeast In warm water with the Sugar, If no bubbles occur after some time the Yeast Is dead. Use a digital thermometer. The water must be 40°-43° This Is my method by the way.
430g Bread Flour
245g Lukewarm Water 40°-43°
7g Yeast
10g Salt
6g Sugar
20g Oil
This will make French Bread or Sandwich Bread.
Emerge11 wow I am really annoyed with Paul Hollywood as his recipe said to put the dry yeast and salt in the flour, then add the COOL water with olive oil then bring together and knead. I remember being surprised as in the past I thought I had dissolved it first in warm water. And there was no sugar in the recipe which I thought the yeast needed to feed on.
Lynibis No wonder It hasn't risen or wont rise. Sugar, Water & Yeast together then It will rise. Yes the Yeast do feed from the Sugar that Is how the bubbles are formed meaning It has worked or they are alive. Salt will kill It If you mix the two together. Your Bread will come out of the Oven or Breadmaker heavy. You can use It as a door stop then and there Is nothing else you can use It for.
Lynibis could you share your recipe for the soup please as I love leek and potato soup so much x 
Gladly, but I am afraid I don't do measurements. This is what I used: 2 large chopped leeks, 3 to 4 large diced potatoes, 2 medium onions, 2 to 3 chicken or veg stock cubes, shake of Worcester sauce, level teaspoon of mixed herbs..
I keep chopped frozen garlic and chilli in the freezer so I also used a teaspoon of the garlic and a scant half teaspoon of chilli, dependent on your taste.
Just chop onion and fry in a little butter or oil with the garlic and chilli.
Add the potatoes and leeks to 'Sweat' for a while but keep stirring as none of these ingredients should be browned, just softened.
Add the stock cubes in about 1 and a half pints (maybe 2) of hot water and add to pan, add Worcester sauce and mixed herbs. Bring to boil and then simmer for 30 minutes or potatoes are practically falling apart. Stir often.
You may need to adjust fluid while cooking if too thick for your liking.
I then blitz mine but I guess some may prefer not to. This made 4 good portions.
Enjoy!
patatkinsondoyl hope you like it as obviously it isn't a strong flavour, hence a bit of worcester and the chilli and garlic. I took some round to my granddaughter (she is having her baby in two days time) and she really liked it so am making more this weekend so we can freeze some.
I had success with some roll a few weeks ago, so I've quit whilst I was ahead,lol
slightfoot I remember your picture, they looked really good and in part are responsible for me to make a start. Maybe I should have started with rolls lol. As yours were a success you should make them whenever you are going to use the oven. I am loathe to use it too often just for a loaf of bread as energy is so expensive.
Lynibis it was my first proper success, I've tried every couple of years for about 20 years!!!! Practice makes perfect,lol, good luck with yours. I agree with you about energy prices, I try not to put the oven on unless it's full. I was lucky to be gifted some bags of good quality bread flour and yeast, otherwise the ingredients themselves can be quite expensive
We make our own Wheaton bread. Husband makes it about once a month. He cooks it in the airfryer. Made some for my parents and my mum now keeps dropping hints about wanting more.
slightfoot it is very good and my mum can be fussy about bread so he was absolutely delighted that she wanted more. Bakes one for when she visits or when we visit them.
Lynibis not that different, you don't need yeast. You mix 1.5 teaspoons bicarb, 1 and 3 quarter tablespoons of lemon juice and 400ml room temperature milk together. Use 500ml strong wholemeal flour, then add bicarb, sugar and salt. You don't need to prove it and it takes 30 minutes in the oven at 180.
patatkinsondoyl it is delicious. Use either semi skimmed or whole milk, not skimmed. Also don't use UHT, it won't work otherwise.
Love making my own bread cause you can add a few little things to the mix to come up with your own creations. Whenever i leave bananas too long and they go black i make banana bread in the breadmaker which always goes down well
No I've never baked my own bread, we don't eat that much of it, so not really any need for it, buy the odd uncut loaf every now and then
martinlufc5637 I can go quite a while without bread but I do love a fresh bread sarnie every so often, or a crusty slice with soup and then again I love toast and jam or with beans, spaghetti or egg on it......hmmm not sure I could go without for too long.
No don't but would love to make wish had the bread making machine that would really help
Top tip. If you want it crusty, put an ovenproof dish of water in the bottom of the oven.
Alway make my own. No preservatives no additives lots of seeds and spelt flour. Use treacle instead of sugar and rapeseed oil not butter. All goes in the bread maker comes out great Easy and tastes better than any bought And can even do it with my broken arm!
that looks really good Lynibis that looks great, well done, there's some great recipes on this thread that I may give ago too x
I made one loaf from a recipe on the flour packet as my husband is coeliac. So it was a gluten-free loaf and I was quite pleased with my results. It tasted really nice and fresh. Only disappointment was I left in oven a little too long and I slightly burnt the crust but it was a first attempt and need to adjust for own appliance.
Made my own bread all my life… By hand and machine.It’s therapeutic
I add a couple of tablespoons of plain yoghurt in the mix early on in the process . Adds flavour and makes it lighter in texture
sueharrison10 could you share your recipe as you must be good if you been making it all your life thankyou x
I love baking and I bought a fool proof sour dough bread baking book. I followed the instructions made the starter then had a go at a simple bread. It is a loooonnnnggg process even once its baked you don't slice it till the next day but it was lovely.
Ilovethebeach Which book did you buy please? I make it regularly. Leave the bread for a couple of hours before slicing. It's best then as it's crusty but lovely and soft inside.
DiAnderson90084 hi I bought The Sour Dough Whisperer by Elaine Boddy. I got it from ebay I also bought her whole grain sour dough book. She tells you what to do step by step. I am sure it will work for you x
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
