Bread Makers- Always a bargain

Bread makers are one of the most underrated kitchen appliances available to the modern cook. Thrift stores are full of nearly-new bread makers that appear to have been used only once. People may have purchased one or received one as a gift and for whatever reason did not incorporate it into their kitchen. They may have felt it was taking up too much room in cabinet or counter, or they may have never quite understood how easy it is to use. That is a shame, because bread makers make short time and easy work out of one of the most labor-intensive cooking tasks that exists: mixing and kneading bread, and even baking it for you. When purchased new, bread makers are one of the more expensive small kitchen appliances available. I have two; one received as a gift that retails around $56.00, and I have one bought at a thrift store for one dollar! Both are on my counters at all times. Price is not an object; I counted three bread makers at my favorite Goodwill yesterday! One had the instruction booklet tucked down in the bread maker and appeared to have only been used once. So, if you love baking, or if your family loves warm bread, pick up a bread maker and get started. In these financially tight times, you can serve a cheap and easy meal with a warm loaf of bread on the table, and it is much more appealing. There are many bread recipes on the internet and several usually come with a bread maker. I suggest you find one that is labeled a Basic bread recipe that you like and use it repeatedly until you do it without even thinking. I could mix my bread maker bread in my sleep. Whatever recipe works best for your appliance, use it, and you will have a beautiful loaf in a few hours, depending on your bread maker. Just be sure and put the milk in the pan first. That always works best. You can buy slicing guides to help you make uniform slices, if desired. One word of caution is in order. Most bread makers have a removable mixing blade; be sure it did not come out and remain in the bottom of your bread loaf. It’s no big deal; just remove with a sharp knife. Making bread in your bread maker is one of the easiest tasks you will perform, once you do it a few times. Bread makers are a wonderful help and time-saver in the kitchen with your baking. If you don’t even bake homemade bread now, it will really be a treat for you and your family. Purchase a container of REAL butter and you will be amazed how your family will react! Cost is not an object because you can find one at any thrift store in very good condition and cheap. They are not difficult to use either, even though they look intimidating sometimes! Once you do it a time or two, you can throw the ingredients in the pan in about two minutes. Remember, the bread machine does the mixing! And, concerning the counter space problem, if you present your family with warm bread, you can get by with frozen food which requires no counter space anyway!

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