Breadmaker recipes: Basic white bread and whole wheat molasses bread

 Over the years I have had many breadmakers. Apparently most people don't use theirs enough to justify the space used to store it.  Thus, the Goodwill usually has at least one almost-unused breadmaker on hand at any given time.

Recently I purchased a new Breadmaker by Toastmaster, and I am thrilled with it!  Unlike the others I have had, this one does not take up as much room on my counter,  I have not had a bad loaf yet! i can't say enough about this little breadmaker.  Here is the Amazon link if you would like to purchase one. (I do get a small commision on the sale.)

   

My first breadmaker was a gift from my one of the dearest friends who has siince passed on .  She taught me to make bread using her  breadmaker recipe, and other than substituting kefir for milk sometimes,  I still use this as my go to bread recipe.  The order of adding the ingredients is the most important thing.

White bread 1.5 lb loaf

Ingredients:

• Oil for bottom of pan
• 1 1/4 cup of milk or plain kefir.
• 3 1/2 cups of flour...bread flour preferably but not imperative
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 heaping tablespoons of butter...I use Smart Balance....margarine or butter is fine.  Just be sure  it is soft and not brick hard like cold butter.
• 2 teaspoons of yeast

DIRECTIONS:

1. Generously coat the pan with  oil....there should be a bit pooling in the pan.
2. Microwave milk for 60 secconds and add to pan.
3. Add 3.5 cups flour.
4. Add Salt and sugar.
5. Add a generous dollup of margarine or butter in each corner.
6. With your finger, hollow out a hole in the center, and add the yeast.
7. Use Basic setting for a 1 1/2 lb loaf and light crust setting.  
8. Dump onto a tray, but don't slice until it cools.

Whole wheat molasses bread 1.5 lb

Ingredients:

• Whole wheat flour:  3 cups
• 2% Milk:  1 1\4 cup
• Regular white bread flour: 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons 
• Salt: 1 1\2 teaspoons
• Molasses: 1\4 cup plus 1 tablespoon
• Generous Oil for pan...I use olive for this bread
• Margarine or softened butter...I use Smart Balance : 2 heaping Tablespoons
• Yeast: 2 1\4 teaspoons 

Directions:

1. Generously coat the pan with  oil....there should be a bit pooling in pan.
2. Microwave milk for 60 secconds and add to pan.
3. Add 3 cups whole wheat flour.
4. Add the white flour.
5. Add Salt 
6. Add molasses
7. Add a generous dollup of margarine or butter in each corner.
8. With your finger, hollow out a hole in the center, and add the yeast.
9. Use Whole Wheat setting for a 1 1/2 lb. loaf  and light crust setting.  
10. Dump onto a tray, but don't slice until it cools.  Both of these Breadmaker breads are so good buttered and microwaved.