The Yummy Bread Adventure...

One way to cut back on the amount of toxins we put into our body is to modify the bread we eat. We love bread, who doesn't? It is really hard to find bread that does not contain many preservatives, even the organic stuff has some things in that I can't pronounce. My dad always said, if you can't pronounce it you shouldn't eat it!

Here are some links that give good information about the preservatives found in bread:

Bread Preservatives & Bladder Irritation

Calcium Propionate – 282 – The Bread Preservative

This is what led me to trying to make my own bread! My mother-in-law was kind enough to led us her bread machine. I have never made bread from scratch... and I really don't enjoy cooking or baking (that's what my husband is for ;))

With a few google searches I found a few recipes that I was willing to try.

The first batch was messed up. I was so excited to start making my own bread that I didn't read the directions to the bread maker! Ha! Lesson learned. I thought it was taking too long and that there was something wrong with the bread maker. So, I stopped the machine, took out the dough... then I read the directions! Oops!

Tip 1: Read the directions to the manual first.

Batch 2 began. While the second batch was working I decided to try and roll out the first batch and make crackers with garlic and onion salt! They were alright. I'm going to try and find a way to make crackers later.

When batch 2 was finished I was soooo excited to try it! I was really disappointed when I realized that the bread was really heavy, almost like it did not rise enough? 

Batch 2 will become croutons for a salad!

Tip 2: Whole wheat flour doesn't rise that much. 

With two failed attempts I decided to look at the recipe book that came with the bread machine. I came across this recipe:

Source: Gold Medal Bread Machine Recipes
1 1/2 Pound Recipe (12 slices)
Crunchy Honey Whole Wheat Bread
1 cups plus 2 TBL water (I used warm water, but I don't know if that makes a difference)
3 TBL honey
2 TBL butter
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cups sliced almonds
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp bread yeast (1 package)

I really wanted to stay away from white flour (because it's bleached). But every time I only used whole wheat flour the dough would not rise! Any suggestions would be welcomed!

I ended up using half whole wheat flour and half white flour.

I used a bread machine so I put the ingredients in the order that the manufacture recommends.  Yeast in the bottom corner then the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and almonds). The the honey and butter. The last thing you do is add the water. Then turn it on and let it do it's thing!

The results! We were really excited that it actually worked!

If anyone has a recipe that they use in the bread maker (with no sugar) I would love to try it out!!