“Harmony’s Toolbox” features products that I personally use and recommend.
I was lucky enough to find this bread maker on Craigslist (brand new) and it is wonderful. We were spending upwards of $5.00 per week on bread and now, spend approximately $1.00. And it is so easy!
The bread-making process consists of adding all of the ingredients in the pan, placing it in the machine, and turning it on. There is a recipe book filled with different options, but I usually make the boring old white bread. Instead of 3 cups of white flour, I substitute 2 cups of white and 1 cup of wheat to make it a little bit healthier (use 1/8-1/4 cup more water).
The machine does all of the work – kneading, timing the rise, and baking. It takes a little over 3 hours. I noticed that some of the reviewers complained about the beeping. It emits 5 beeps, 5 times, to mark the time when you can add nuts, raisins, etc. Then, about half-way through, it beeps six times to notify you that the mixing paddle can be removed. You can leave it in, but there will be an indentation in the bottom of the bread. I usually try to take it out. I don’t find the beeping that annoying – the kids are usually in bed when it goes off and they don’t wake up.
The bread is good, easy to make, saves us money, and is healthier than what we were purchasing at the store. Efficiency wise, it does take an extra minute to slice the bread, so I recommend a good bread knife. Overall, this bread maker was a positive change in 2014 that will keep us moving towards our goals in 2015.
We have a bread maker at our home, but it hasn’t left the basement since my wife got it as a present last Christmas. This post has me excited about baking bread in it, though – I didn’t realize it had the potential to save you money!
Bread is one of those things that we would always buy and it seemed like a “fixed expense.” But it is so easy and cheap to make from scratch, especially if you already have a bread maker. Also, your house will smell awesome!