January is Bread Machine Baking Month
Start January with Cinnamon Raisin Bread
I love my bread machine. It is getting a little old and I had to glue the door hinge back on but it still makes great bread. We have had a journey, my bread machine and I and there have been many recipes. Sour dough did not work out so well. White bread and wheat bread are made frequently. but the absolute favorite is Cinnamon Raisin Bread. It is so much better than any that you can buy. Fresh bread is usually gone in two days and the Cinnamon Raisin disappears instantly. We have bread gremlins.
Why use a bread machine?
On one of our camping trips, a lady came over with a cup of water and asked if she could warm it in our microwave as she was making bread in her machine. While this was not an unusual request, we were all traveling in teardrop trailers. The bread machine and microwave are not considered vintage while the trailers are. Asked why she traveled with a bread machine, she said they preferred the warm bread from the machine and the convenience of fresh bread wherever they were. She did not use the mixes but instead, made up packets at home and brought them with her. I thought it was a little extreme until she brought us a slice. There is nothing better than fresh bread when camping.
A bread machine is easy to use. You add the ingredients and walk away. There are no pans on the stove with the rising bread, there is no need to knead it down. In three hours, the bread is done. For busy people who prefer fresh bread, this frees up the schedule. There are times I have made bread when I had the time but there is no need to sacrifice taste for time with the bread machine.
The photo is our teardrop trailer at the 1st International Teardrop Gathering in Minden, Nebraska.
Allrecipes.com
- Allrecipes.com
My go to place for recipes. I have been a member for a long time and many of the foods we enjoy are on this site. The recipe for the bread came from there.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons butter softened
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 1/4 bread machine yeast (I use regular yeast)
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Set the loaf size at 2 lbs. Set the bread type as "Sweet".
- Add the ingredients in the order listed except for the raisins. Most bread machines require the wet ingredients on the bottom. I am not an expert but it makes it easier for the paddles to mix the ingredients more thoroughly.
- Most bread machines have a beep or some sort of signal about 5 minutes before the kneading cycle has finished. If not, add the raisins towards the end of the kneading cycle.
Ingredients in the pan
Everything on the ingredient list is under the flour. In my bread machine, regardless of the listing on the recipe, the yeast is always the last thing added and it goes into a well made in the center.
Tip - Fleischmann's Yeast
There are lots of brands on the market. Many are made for bread machines and I have tired them. While they do a good job, the standard, old-fashioned dry yeast really seems to work best. It is not fast rising but my bread machine allows enough time for the bread to rise. Baking times and rising times tend to change based on elevation so this may not work for everyone but this is the only one I use. However, I generally buy it in the jar and measure my own. It lasts for quite a while in the refrigerator and I like having it on hand.
Bread is done and the house smells great!
Finished loaf - No additional pictures, it was cut and eaten by the guys
Bread Machine
Another picture of the bread machine - Yes, sometimes I cheat and use the Krusteaz bread mix
We like the sourdough bread mix. Sourdough is not the easiest thing to make so I have been known to use the Krusteaz mix. It's simple. Add water, the mix, and yeast and it is ready for dinner when I get home.
Soup and bread
This is a common sight after Thanksgiving when we have leftover turkey. If I make turkey barley soup, I also made sour dough bread. The fragrance of the bread and the soup fills the house.
