Suggestions as to what I should add to my basic bread recipe

[loosechange]

I've got the hang of the basic bread recipe, such that the whole family will eat it.

I currently use strong white flour, and 1/4 of the total amount is wholemeal. That and the addition of honey is as adventurous as I have got.

I tried using half milk half water, and it was a forgettable loaf.

What have you tried that you would recommend? I was debating a little red onion and some Red Leicester sling the artisan bread style, but am I kidding myself?

And when do you add extras in if you are using them.

I use a mixer with a bread hook.

TIA

Hopeful bump

I had asked this a while back and got some fan suggestions. Do a search of my username to find it.

Perfect. Thank you.

Replace some of the milk/water with an egg for a softer loaf. Fresh yeast also produces a better tasting loaf.

Cheese and onion sounds good, but I'd use fried onion, not raw.

If you add any 'wet' ingredients like roasted vegetables, drained olives, sun dried tomatoes etc then add a bit of extra flour too.

I would second the fresh yeast- made a big difference to the taste and texture of my loaves both in breadmaker and made by hand

grated cheese and fried, smoked bacon chopped small is lovely

My mum used to put a couple of teaspoons of caraway seed in. Was really delicious and especially nice for cheese sarnies!

Thank you, great ideas. Would you add the grated cheese etc at the same time as the flour?

Onion and poppyseed is really good. Fry the onion well though and let it cool before adding. And cut a little of the liquid out because the onion will be wet with oil. Handful of poppyseeds.

I like putting a squeeze of tomato paste into the liquid, and then kneading in some chopped olives and sundried tomatoes once the dough has risen once. Then cheese on the top of the loaf before baking so it goes all melted and crunchy on the top.

Substituting some of the liquid for beer or ale is nice, and try using yoghurt instead of milk - it'll make a really soft loaf that will keep well. Dan Lepard bread recipes are usually pretty good.

Walnut and cranberries

I like adding sunflower seeds.
or replace some of the flower with a seed&grain mix.
if you like savoury, you can use other liquids, like gherkin/pickle liquid or stock or blitzed tomatos/spinach instead of/with water.

Thanks again.