Is the bread machine the greatest invention since sliced bread?
You don’t really need a bread maker for good bread. We’ve been making bread for at least 22,000 years and I reckon, in the vast majority of those years, having a bread maker would have made things a whole lot easier if you just had the electricity to run it. A good bread maker will vastly cut down on your time. Making bread by hand requires a few hours and lot of physical kneading while, in a bread machine, you dump the ingredients in, turn it on and walk away, then come back and enjoy some fresh bread.
If you have a bread-making machine, this delicious recipe will soon be your most popular bread, perfect for afternoon tea. Goes well with a small glass of sherry. Or a good sized glass of rum
For best results, soak the raisins in rum overnight and measure the raisins after soaking.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons rum
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 tablespoon dry milk powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons butter
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored extract
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Method
- 1. In a small bowl, pour rum over raisins.
- 2. Let stand for 30 minutes and drain.
- 3. Place ingredients in pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Use the regular setting for a 1 pound loaf.
- 4. If your machine has a Fruit setting, add the raisins at the signal, or about 5 minutes before the kneading cycle has finished.
Recipes for the Bread Maker
The 300-plus recipes are so far-ranging it’s hard to believe a bread exists that isn’t included here. There are white breads and sourdoughs, all manner of whole wheat and grain breads and breads featuring nuts and dried fruits, cheese and savoury flavourings.
There are crusty ciabattas, a sturdy Irish Potato Brown Bread and a variety of challahs, dozens of sweet breads, including croissants, coffee cakes and traditional holiday confections.Recipes for pizza and flatbreads, as well as selections from a variety of traditions, from Alsatian kugelhopf to Zuni Indian bread.
Did you know you can use a bread machine to make pasta, jams and chutneys? This was a new one on me!
Up until now the bread machine hasn’t really enjoyed wholehearted acceptance in the culinary world but The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook: A Master Baker’s 300 Favorite Recipes will convince you that it’s time to overcome any qualms and get to work.
The bread machine is here to stay.