I want to make my own bread.

[Jayne266]

Where do I start?
What's the best type of white bread to make?
I don't want to use a bread maker if possible.
Any recipes?

Here is a link to Paul Hollywood's step by step how to make a loaf of white bread. It is very rewarding to make your own bread. Use top quality fresh ingredients and don't rush it - you have to be patient. I like to use Allinson or Doves strong bread flour and use Allinson yeast sachets. You don't need any special equipment to start with not even a loaf tin.

I do use my bread maker occasionally on the dough cycle and then I cook the loaf in the oven.

I'm inclined to nudge you in the direction of the Women's Institute Book of Bread. It's the one I use all the time. It's easy to follow, and everything I've done from it has turned out beautifully.

(I don't use Paul Hollywood's stuff because, no matter how good his recipes are, I find him unutterably ghastly)

I found this website useful when I started baking

www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/yourfirstloaf

Unfortunately it uses American measurements (cups etc. instead of weight) but you can convert fairly easily here

www.onlineconversion.com/weight_volume_cooking.htm

If you play about with a few recipes you'll soon get the hang of it!

The Easy Focaccia recipe from the Hairy Bikers Baking Book is ridiculously easy and LOVELY.

here

Here is an easy learning recipe...let me know how it works out for you!

3 cups. lukewarm water
2 tablespoons of yeast
8 tablespoons of sugar
2 eggs
6 tablespoons of oil
1 teaspoon of salt
7-8 cups flour

Mix yeast and 4 cups flour in a bowl.

Whip eggs, oil, sugar, and water in a large bowl. Add flour-yeast mixture. Blend well. Add remaining flour and salt. Form into ball and let rise 15 minutes. PUNCH DOWN. DO NOT KNEAD.

Let rise again 15 minutes. PUNCH DOWN and form into buns and put onto greased pan, OR put in greased bread tin/loaf thingy.

Cover and let rise on counter or warm place for 1 hour.

Bake in 350 oven for 15-18 minutes.

Brush lightly with butter right out of own.

I would be inclined to start with a breadmaker but then graduate to hand made.

TBH, I now use my breadmaker now just to mix the dough and rise and then I finish by hand and bake in an oven. The breadmaker allows me to get on with other tasks as it is on a timer and ensures a good initial knead and perfect firast rise. Knocking back and second kneading and forming the loaf by hand for the final proving before baking is where I put the effort in.

I really find bread making is about confidence and experience. I can make a couple of loaves without even thinking now but the breadmaker gave me the initial confidence to get started.

Mother2many I didn't know you could put eggs in bread!

Having done a few loaves myself, and still being a beginner, I'd say:

• Only attempt this on a day where you have plenty of time, because you sometimes need longer than the time stated in the recipe for it to prove and swell enough. Don't be baking to a deadline! It's very stressful IME.

• When you're mixing the dry and wet ingredients (ie flour and water) don't just put both set quantities from recipe in a bowl and mix. I have made this mistake at lease twice, and ended up with a sloppy mess that needed loads more flour adding before I could knead it into anything ressembling a dough. And it's horribly messy and sticks to your hands, meaning you get slop on anything you touch (e.g. the cupboard where the flour is, the drawer where the spoon is etc). Add the liquid slowly because you might not need the full stated amount - I think it depends on ambient conditions. And have your bag of flour with a spoon in it standing by, so you can add more if necessary.

Breads like hot cross buns and brioche have eggs in the recipe. It helps the texture and makes the bread moist.

Bread makers are great to get started.
I use a bread maker to do the hard work of kneading, once that is done I often pop it out and make all sorts of different flavoured and shaped breads. My favourite is focaccia - adding sprigs of rosemary and crunchy sea salt to the top.
Jamie Olivers recipe has never failed.

Mother2many
I am making your bread recipe. Will report back later.

OP,
You can buy second hand breadmakers for next to nothing from local press like Friday-Ad or eBay. Often they have barely been used. Good to get you started. Mine was twelve quid.

Coat your hands and the countertop with a little olive oil and that should stop the dough sticking to everything. Try not to add extra flour.

I have a bread maker but have no idea how to use it the instructions are so complicated.

I think I will see if I can find a youtube video of it.

Mother2many
The rolls are superb and light as a feather. Yum yum. Such an easy recipe and so quick. Thank you.

OP what bread maker have you got?

Careful with apparently sloppy dough.

It usually just needs a really good kneaidng. Dont panic and start chucking loads of flour in. Keep kneading, develop the gluten. Dont worry if it sticks to your hands, just keep going. It will stop being sticky after a while.