Could I ask for a really good BREAD recipe, please?

[Columbia]

I ditched the breadmaker because we never used it much, and it was rubbish with only one recipe, no instructions etc...anyway, I still want to try making my own bread.

Mum used to make a gorgeous wholemeal loaf but it was like a brick sorry mum...and every time I've tried to make bread, it turns out the same.

I am desperately hoping someone out there knows how to make bread so it comes out edible and fairly soft - at least with some air in it.

I get so confused about kneading times and rising times too.

Is there anyone kind enough to help?

It takes much more kneading than you would think. Literally ten minutes minimum, and five minutes feels like ten so you really have to persevere (this is by hand I'm talking about) and it has to feel soft and smooth like skin.

You could of course make wholemeal soda bread which takes no kneading.

I use this recipe I make the dough in the bread maker and then cook it in the oven. I use half white bread half wholegrain flour for a healthier loaf.

Ooh thankyou ladies. I am absorbing all this, keep the hints coming!

That looks delish, Mega I want some NOW!!

It is yummy - and always seems to work.

Delia's brown bread recipe works very well too , but agree that you have to knead longer than you think. Best to bake it when there are people to chat to - then it doesn't feel so long. I do that when ds has friends round and we chat and bake and they have it for tea. Can also add all kinds of things in it like raisins and pumpkin seeds and it still works.