I remember several years ago, when Matt and I were making our wedding registries, telling my mother that I didn’t want a bread maker. I knew several people who owned or had owned one and never used it. I knew we would be limited for counter and cabinet space in our apartment, and I did not want an unused appliance cluttering up space that could be used for other things.
For several years we made bread by hand occasionally, but mainly relied on store bought bread for everyday use. Then, several months after Little was born, we decided we wanted to cut some of the HFCS and preservatives from our diet, and I began baking all of our sandwich bread.
Enter Boo and many months of sleepless nights, and we were back to buying bread at the grocery. And as much as we like Oroweat bread, paying $3.50 a loaf began to wear on the grocery budget.
So, for Christmas I asked my parents if they would buy me a bread maker. I love this appliance! We bake bread at least twice a week, and it is wonderful to have fresh bread available for toast, sandwiches, etc.
For the last couple of months we’ve been testing wheat bread recipes for the bread maker, and a couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a winner. This recipe makes soft, fluffy, tasty bread that everyone in our family enjoys.
Wheat Bread for the Bread Machine
adapted from this recipe
* 1-1/2 cup warm water
* 2 tablespoons honey
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2-1/4 cups whole wheat flour
* 2 cups all purpose or bread flour
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
* 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Place ingredients (except yeast) in bread maker pan in order listed. Make an indention in center of dry ingredients and spoon yeast into the indention. Set bread maker to 2 lb. loaf on whole wheat cycle.
Let the bread maker do it’s thing and then enjoy some warm, yummy homemade bread.