Thursday, March 6, 2014

As Good As Grandma's Bread Machine Bread {Recipe}

We have been on a real homemade kick over here at my house. We have been making our own homemade laundry detergent for awhile, and we have recently added homemade yogurt to the make-our-own list.

And, thanks to Jill, I have now started making my own bread too. Right after I had Lorelei, Jill very sweetly brought over dinner for the family and included some homemade bread. I seriously just stood there at the kitchen island, eating slice after slice of that bread. I had forgotten how incredibly GOOD homemade bread tastes.

So I hauled out my bread maker, and the recipe book that came with it, and made a loaf. It was yummy...but I didn't really like the recipe. It was too crusty and not very soft. I wanted the bread to be like my Grandma makes. But without all the work. Because I am lazy. And I have three kids. {To be fair though, my Grandma had SIX kids and still managed to make amazing bread. That is why Grandmas are superheroes.}

After trying out several recipes and a little trial and error {and one sad loaf of bread that had to be discarded}, I have found the perfect bread machine bread recipe. I mean, better-than-Grandma's-bread bread. Well...maybe not better than...shall we say as good as Grandma's bread? It is really divine.

This bread bakes up nicely in the bread machine, but I like pulling it out and popping it in the oven. That way I don't have to deal with the annoying little paddle on the bottom and the bread is a much nicer size for eating and making sandwiches.

I am going to warn you though; It is hard to go back to store bought bread after tasting this bread.

Ingredients:
-1 cup warm water {115 degrees Fahrenheit}
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 package yeast {.25 oz}
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil {do NOT use canola oil!!}
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt


1. Pour the warm water, sugar and yeast into the bread machine and let it foam for about ten minutes. {NOTE: I know your bread machine's instructions probably warn you to NOT do exactly this. My booklet told me to always keep the yeast separate and to put it in last. But you can trust me--it's ok! Live a little and throw those rules away! You little rebel, you.}



2. Add the rest of the ingredients and turn the machine on. If you want to let the machine bake the bread, let it for white light and a 1.5 lb loaf. You're done! However, if you would like to bake your bread in the oven, set it to the dough setting. {I usually set my microwave timer to go off at the same time, since the alarm on the bread machine is very quiet and you need to pull the dough out pretty quickly.}



3. Once the timer goes off, remove the dough and place in a greased loaf pan. Cover with a towel and let rise while the oven heats to 350 degrees. {NOTE: I also place a pan of water in the oven along with the bread. The humidity is suppose to help the crust.}



4. Bake for 25 minutes and pull out. If you like soft crust, coat the top with butter. 




Allow to cool and then slice and enjoy! 

 


 There is nothing quite like fresh baked bread. My whole family loves to eat it plain.


But a little butter never hurt.


My daughter was hovering in the background while I was taking the photos and as soon as I was done, she picked up the bread and devoured it. 


 I love how happy a simple slice of bread can make her!


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8 comments:

  1. We also love to make our stuff homemade as well. It so full filling and the bread looks very yummy! :)

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  2. That bread looks so yummy! She looks like she is really enjoying it...I wouldn't mind a piece myself.

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  3. Yum, it looks so soft! I'm still looking for the perfect white loaf recipe, so I'll be sure to give it a try.

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  4. Wonderful looking bread!
    Love the texture - rich, and yest soft and fluffy

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  5. Thanks for sharing this recipe at The Pin Junkie. It was one of the features this week!

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  6. I love bread and this bread looks so yummy!! I pinned it. Thanks for linking up to Saturday Dishes Blog Hop.
    Blessings,
    Diane Roark
    recipesforourdailybread com

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