What A Waste

[StarLite]

We were a little short of cash this weekend so we get the stupid idea in our heads to make our own bread. Not a stupid idea really when your ingredients are fresh. I've made bread before and it turned out really good so I'm not an amateur at it. So I get everything ready to go when hubby pulls out the jar of yeast which the expiry date was 2011. So hubby says make it anyway, if it turns out, fine, if not who cares, well I do since I didn't like throwing 3 cups of flour in the garbage. Anyway our money came in the next day, so himself bought us 3 loaves of bread 2 we froze.

I hate being on a fixed income, I wish I could still work. The moral of this story, never use yeast past it's prime.

[Jude]

I'm a terrible cook, even if the ingredients are good. I hate making something that ends up burnt or tasting bad, and then I usually eat it anyway (for the same reasons as you), and then I have to clean up afterwards. I really miss being able to go out to eat at a restaurant whenever I felt like it.

[Rosaboobie]

By coincidence, I bought some yeast just today in our little local shop, as I intend to make some pizza dough with it for the first time ever. . I am very lucky - my friend makes all my bread for me - I just buy the ingredients - she is bored since her husband died a few months ago, and loves baking.

[draclvr]

I'm famous for my pizza dough, Rosaboobie!

[Diat60]

Bri and I make bread occasionally. We're lucky enough to have a proving feature on the oven which cuts out a lot of guesswork. We find it very satisfying although these days it takes the two of us to do the kneading by spelling each other!

[draclvr]

And I dearly love my bread maker! I usually just put it on the dough feature to let it do the kneading work and then shape and bake it into whatever I'm making. I made 3 huge muffaletta sandwiches last week and shaped the dough into 10 rounds, put an egg wash on them, topped with sesame seeds and baked. Although I actually LIKE to knead dough, it sure makes it a lot easier!

[Rosaboobie]

I thought maybe a bread maker was "cheating" somewhat.

Drac please let me have your pizza dough recipe

[draclvr]

Of course it's cheating!! I don't mind cheating a bit at all...

Here is my pizza dough - nothing is specific as I don't measure. Assuming you just want enough of a "batch" for one good-sized pizza here is what you will need - this will be in American measurements, so you will have to convert or guess.

1/2 cup warm water plus 1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon of dry yeast (or a packet, not sure how you get yours - the amount isn't critical)
Mix these three together and let stand for about 10 minutes or until the yeast is dissolved.
To this mixture add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and enough flour to make a batter consistency. I also add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, but that's up to you. Then start adding in large spoonfuls of flour one at a time and mixing until it makes a dough that is still just slightly sticky. Do not knead. Just cover and put in a room temperature or slightly warmer place for a couple of hours.

Grease up your pan... I use well-seasoned cast iron skillets for the best crust, but use the pan of your choice. Using plenty of flour on your hands - not the dough - place the dough in the pan and start patting and pressing it out to the edges. Make sure you don't stretch it, just keep working it out to the sides. This is enough dough for a large pizza, but if you're making a smaller one only use part of the dough.

I've tried using kneaded recipes, but the crust is too "bready" and not like a crispy tender crust.

Top with sauce, cheese, your favorite toppings and finally more cheese and bake in a 400° oven until done.

[Rosaboobie]

Any sort of flour? Can I use wholemeal flour?

[draclvr]

I usually just use unbleached white flour, but I'm sure you could use wholemeal too. It might not rise quite as much, so maybe increase the yeast just a bit.

[LadyKestrel]

I had a bread machine, and Dave and my sister both made all kinds of tasty bread in it for about 3 months. Then it sat on the top of the fridge for about 3 years before I finally gave it away.

[Stella]

My bread machine retired to the top of the fridge also.

[Rosaboobie]

My bread maker has never been out of its box. It has travelled from Jersey to Kenya, and from Kenya to Sanday, and still in its box it sits................

[mbday630]

ah, breadmakers! We have one too and the first year we got it, Larry made bread twice a week. Each year it has gotten less and less. This past winter he made 1 loaf of bread, and that was just because me and his mom was nagging that we wanted home made bread and he made 1 loaf. I love the taste of homemade bread when it first comes out of the maker, but, I hate it the next day and the day after that I throw it out. It gets rotten and dry so fast. I only love it fresh, warm and slathered with butter.

[draclvr]

That is indeed the best way to eat it! And make that real butter too. I just keep mine in the refrigerator and it will last for about a week. After than, I put it in the food processor and make bread crumbs in the oven with it. I do them at 325° until they are golden brown... best bread crumbs ever!