A Tale of Bread Machines and Apricot Oat Bread



So now I must admit to my addiction, bread machines, this must be like the twelve step program, admit you have a problem.  Well mine started very innocently , I had "one" bread machine many years ago, but it grew dusty so I gave it away to my sister-in-law.  Then about two years ago I started making homemade yogurt and saving money and being more frugal and I really wanted to make bread again, yeah I know I could use my Kitchenaid Mixer, but I missed the bread machine.  So I posted on our local Free cycle board and asked if anyone had one they would like to part with and low and behold I got one "free" and that started it all.   I became very good at this bread thing. 

Ok step two I like to go to garage sales,  bread machines 2-5 were all bought at garage sales for 10 bucks or less, in fact only one cost 10 because the lady would not make a deal.   Ok step 3, I start sharing my bread at work,  somebody gives me the name The Bread Fairy and suggest maybe I should make it a business.  Hmmm, sounded like a long shot to me.  Then some nice lady I worked with designed the Bread Fairy , if you go look at my about me , that's not me but my Fairy.  I bake and sell to friends and coworkers right now and use the many bread machines I have acquired to help me speed up the process.  So now that I have admitted I have a problem I can move on......... Maybe to more bread machines you know that garage sale season is getting ready to start................

Now on to this weeks new bread I tried, Apricot Oatmeal Bread, I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com.  I did accidentally change one or two things in the recipe.  I added as I always do 4 teaspoons of vital wheat gluten and I added the honey to the bread, it was supposed to brushed on top after it was baked, oops............   I use the dough cycle on my machine and let it rise for a second time for about 45 minutes and baked it at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  

Below is the dough all mixed up in the machine.

The next picture is of the dough after it has risen for 45 minutes and ready to go in the oven.



Next is the bread baked brushed with butter oops not the honey like it was supposed to be. 



Now the cut bread and its tasty insides.

The verdict on this bread is 5 stars.  It has orange juice in it so it has a hint of citrus and the cinnamon and apricots give it a taste boost.  It is a LARGE loaf of bread , so if you try to make this in your bread machine make sure you have a 2 pound capability.  I think I would definitely make this again, just because I love apricots hehehe.

So if you would like to see the recipe please click on the link above and it will take you to the page.  

Next time I think I will share my Peanut Butter Bread Recipe with you it is also to die for, so until next time thanks for stopping by.  Oh and if you like what you see please follow me on Google Connect.

Thanks again

Denise

Linked up to Mouth Watering Mondays at A Southern Fairy Tale
Frugal Antics of a Harried Housewife Your Recipe My Kitchen
Tuesdays at the Table All the Small Stuff
Dining with Debbie Whats on the Menu Wednesday
Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helens Country Cottage
Food on Fridays

Wheat'n Yogurt Bread for Bread Machine and Some Cinnamon Swirl French Toast

First off, what would you do with leftover Cinnamon Swirl Bread, besides give it to the birds, umm no way birdies.  I made French Toast out of it as you can see below, it was delish.

Now on to this weeks recipe, I again went searching on my favorite recipe site Food.com because I had some homemade yogurt left over that I did not eat so I wanted to use it in a bread recipe so I stumbled upon this one Wheat'n Yogurt Bread for the Bread machine,   I made a couple of changes to the recipe.  I used canola oil instead of butter or margarine and like I always do I added 4 teaspoons of vital wheat gluten.  This recipe makes a 2 pound loaf, which is kinda big for just hubby and me, so I made two 1 pound loafs and only used the dough cycle and baked it in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes.

Below is the bread ready to mix in machine.

This is the dough all mixed up and ready for its rise in the machine.

Below is the dough ready to rise, I let it rise about 45 minutes, this being a whole wheat dough, it does not rise has high as white bread.

Now here are my two 1 pound loaves out of the oven and sliced and tasted.  The overall taste to this bread is chewy and very good.  I would definitely add this to my regular bread baking.   I always have homemade yogurt around and it makes a nice dense and moist loaf, not dry like some wheat breads.



Well off to find some more bread adventures for the Bread Fairy, like farmers markets maybe this spring or summer, working on that plan.  Please click on the links above for the recipe as it is not my original and I only made a few changes to it.  Thanks for stopping by ............

I am linking up over at Tuesdays at the Table All the Small Stuff, please go check out all the great recipes !!!

I am linking up withMade from Scratch Tuesday over at From Mess to Bistro, please go check out all the great recipes everyone shares

I have linked up over at Dining with Debbie, Whats on the Menu Wednesday, please go check it out

I have linked up over at Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helens Country Cottage

I have linked up over at Prairie Story Recipe Swap Thursday

Denise aka The Bread Fairy

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I have a friend who's birthday was Saturday and I asked her what kind of bread would you like the Bread Fairy to make you , and she picked Cinnamon Swirl Bread.  Here again going out of my comfort zone, as I have never made this kind of bread before.  I went searching on  All recipes.com and found this recipe Cinnamon Swirl Bread.  The only thing I changed in the recipe was to add 4 teaspoons of vital wheat gluten, why you might ask, because to me it makes a more stable loaf and it seems to rise just a bit more.  I also did not put the glaze on it because it tasted sweet enough to me.  Below are some pictures as I made the bread.

The above picture is rolling the dough out and putting the butter and cinnamon sugar on.

This is dough as I rolled it up like a jelly roll.

In the pan to rise about an hour.

Ready to go into the oven.

Out of the oven,  I brushed the tops with butter.

Here it is cut and ready to eat,  I don't think I did a bad job and it tasted good too.  So a Happy Birthday goes out to Jeanie and her birthday bread.

Thanks for stopping by................

I am sharing my recipe over at A Prairie Story Recipe Swap Thursday, pleae go check out all the great recipes

Denise



Recipe Swap Thursday over at Praire Story

I am participating over at Prairie Storys Recipe Swap Thursday so go check out all the awesome recipes.

Denise

ButterMilk Bread For The Bread Machine

This bread is so easy to make and never fails to come together.  I have made it for gifts and as an everyday bread for here at home.  I really do not buy bread it is cheaper and easier to make  it.  I originally found this recipe on  Food.com, but I have changed a couple things so I will put my recipe below.  If you would like to see the original recipe just click on the link above .

Buttermilk White Bread

This makes a 2 pound loaf

1 1/4 cups warmed buttermilk

2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine or oil

3 cups bread flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons yeast

4 teaspoons vital wheat gluten

Place ingredients in bread machine as listed or according to your machine.  Select basic bread machine cycle and start machine.  I use the dough cycle and let it rise about 30 minutes and bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes.

So I hope you go and try this bread it is a never fail and is moist and tender, just great for sandwiches or anything else.

Thanks for stopping by........... Spread the word about the Bread Fairy.......... and you never know you may get addicted to your bread machines too.

Denise

I am participating in Recipe Swap Thursday at Praire Story please go check out the other recipes, they look great.

Italian Wedding Soup My Recipe And A Big Thanks Over to Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker

I would like to thank Kristen over at Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker  for the prize I won in her giveaway.  A coupon for a free bottle of Welches Grape Juice.  Please go and visit her blog it has alot of good recipes and information.  Now on to my own version of Italian Wedding Soup.  I came up with my own after trying some in a can that was just ok, I knew I could do better and I did so the following is my own version.  I would like to give a special thanks to my hand model in the picture my hubby :) , who puts up with all my bread baking and cooking.  Thanks for all your hand modeling !!!

Italian Wedding Soup

1 pound ground Turkey

some bread crumbs, I don't measure

1 egg

Some Parmesan cheese grated

Italian Seasoning to taste

Garlic Powder to taste

Soup Mixture

8 cups chicken stock , canned is fine, but I make my own

3 carrot diced

1 large onion diced

1 or 2 cloves of garlic chopped

2 stalks of celery chopped

Salt and Pepper

Italian Seasoning

1 bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/2 cup orzo pasta

First mix up all the meatball ingredients and set aside.

Then get out your shiny red pot, oops that's my favorite cast iron like LeCruset Dutch Oven, but his nickname is of course the above  "shiny red pot".  Yes small things make me happy.  Dump in a little olive oil and your carrots, onion, garlic, and celery and saute for about 10 minutes until soft.  Then add your chicken broth or stock and the spinach and let simmer for about 15 minutes until the carrots are soft.  Then go get your meatball mixture and make little meatballs, I use my cookie scoop and it makes the perfect size.  Drop them in one at a time and stir to make sure they do not stick to the bottom of shiny red pot.  Turn down to a simmer and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until they are done.  While they are cooking cook the 1/2 cup of orzo in a separate pot for about 8 minutes and drain.  When the meatballs are done stir in the orzo and you are good to go and eat now.

So I hope you will go and try some soup and maybe a loaf of bread to go with it ( shameless self promotion)   Thanks again for stopping by.........

Denise

The Best Bread Machine Challah

On my search today to go outside my comfort zone, to make a bread that required shaping and not baked in a pan.  I have always wanted to try and make Challah Bread.  So off to my favorite recipe site Food.com , I searched and found this recipe The Best Bread Machine Challah.  The only change I made to the recipe was to add 4 teaspoons of vital wheat gluten, which seems to help promote bigger loaves and stability in the dough. 

Just make sure your bread machine can hold up to 4 cups of flour and make sure you remove it at the beep of the dough cycle. 

I was not a good braider even with my hair when I was younger, so braiding bread dough was new to me, as you can see below I managed to do it

This is dough after it has risen for 1/2 hour and brushed with a beaten egg, for browning and making it shiny or "purty" like I say.

Below if the finished product straight out of the oven.  If I have to say so myself it turned out great.  Now just have to wait for it too cool so it can be tasted.  But the bread got nothing but 5 star reviews on the site.

So I suggest that this week everyone go and try to make something out of your comfort zone.  I sure did and it turned out great.  So please go visit Food.com at the above links and check out this fabulous recipe.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday !!!!

Denise

Sour Cream Cinnamon Bread

This bread got rave reviews, when I took it to work to share with everyone.  I hope you enjoy it too.



2/3 cup water( add extra water by tablespoons if dough is too dry)
1/2 cup sourcream( lowfat works nofat does not)
1 egg
1 tablespoon softened butter or margarine or vegetable oil
3 1/2 cups bread flour
4 teaspoon vital wheat gluten
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons yeast
1/2 cup golden raisins

Measure all ingredients carefully and place in bread machine pan in order recommended by your manufacturer.  Select sweet or basic cycle or dough cycle.

I always bake this one right in the machine, it makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf.  If you use dough cycle, take out of machine and let rise in pan about 35 minutes and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this as much as all of my friends did, please spread the word about the BreadFairy to all your blogging buddy's.  Thanks Denise aka The Bread Fairy.