Bread makers

I have a Panasonic, which is good - but I really prefer to make my bread using my Kenwood Chef. I then make it into rolls or a loaf, which I slice and put loosely in a freezer bag and into the freezer (I can then take out exactly the number of slices I need).

Being alone I have recently bought a small Lakeland bread maker to replace my old Morphy Richards. Just make the dough and divide it into 4 small loaves. Freeze three. Also make dough to make two fruit loaves. Have always made my own bread and haven't bought shop stuff.

My husband is the bread maker & makes a range of delicious breads after I paid for him to join Betty's bread making courses. He's been on two now & enjoyed both. They are little expensive but he does bake very good bread

I now find the first loaf my OH made with our "new" machine was actually done using his favourite wholemeal stoneground flour. Considering that this is a lot rougher in the grain, the texture and the rise was excellent.

I am now trying an olive loaf, half white half wholemeal. I did get a bit muddled with the new order of putting stuff in. Like forgetting salt and oil but they went in before kneading started. Here's hoping.

I may be back to you lot for tips.

I have a Panasonic that I put on at night on a timer, and wake up to fresh bread in the morning. Comes with a good recipe book. The facility to store dried fruit etc in the the lid to drop down at the right moment in the programme is useful for malt bread etc.

I have just been worrying that it wasn't doing anything, but just reading the book again it rests for 90mins.

This is as nerve wracking as waiting for your daughter to give birth.

Can I have some congratulations when my first Panasonic loaf is actually delivered ?

If you forget that it is on, it can give you a fright when it suddenly starts up kneading again.

It's arrived! My first Panasonic loaf of bread safely delivered after 5 hrs of labour.
Hello to Olive Rosemary Bread.

I have to say it does not look very different from the one OH made a couple of days ago. It's heads a funny shape though.

I swear by my Panasonic which I use every other day. It's wonderful for wholemeal which others don't seem good at. I use dried yeast and an extra half teaspoon of Vit C powder for wholemeal flour for a good rise. Bought wholemeal bread has lots of salt which isnt good for DH high blood pressure.