Dear TL,
I heard that you were just about ‘inherit’ a bread maker, so I thought you’d like a VERY DEPENDABLE bread recipe for kids lunches (and yours).
Breadmaker Sandwich Bread
Go buy these bags at the grocery:
You will also need a jar of fast-acting yeast, water, and salt.
Put 1.25 c warm (75-80 degree) water, 2 T fat, 1.5 tsp salt, 3-4T honey, real maple syrup, or organic cane crystals in the bottom of the machine.
Mix in a separate bowl–3 cups (room temperature) Knight Arthur 100% Organic Whole Wheat Flour and 5T Vital Wheat Gluten (Bob’s Red Mill or Hodgsons Mill).
Add to the bread maker, making a mountain of flour with a moat of liquid.
Poke a hole in the mountain peak to make a shallow volcano mouth and fill with 1.5 tsp fast rising yeast.
Put pan in machine. Set breadmaker on 1.5 lbs loaf, light crust color, on the basic bread setting.
Shake out of pan when finished and slice with that old electric knife we all got twenty years ago and never used. (Now you’ll use it every other day.)
Now, some side notes.
First, I KNOW that this isn’t 100% ORGANIC, since some ingredients aren’t, so I guess it’s really Homemade Breadmaker 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread Made with Organic Flour and Organic Cane Crystals, but that was too long for the title. But, if you have a hyper-granola cousin who demands absolute accuracy in such matters…there it is.
Second, gluten gets a bad rap, but if you aren’t allergic, and you intend to cook a great deal with whole wheat, go buy a bag or two RIGHT NOW. Gluten is the thing that makes whole wheat WORKABLE. Otherwise, it’s too stiff for this recipe and for tortillas, ravioli, and the like.
GLUTEN: It’s your new best friend.
Ivory
Dear Ivory,
I came across this as I was looking into your links from old posts. Can you tell me why Smart Balance? Why not butter?
One major problem we have with our bread maker bread is cutting it into even slices. Do you have any tips? I love the electric knife. I never thought of that. Can we cut ahead and store in a container?
Thanks,
I just love your site! I always tell my DH that I will be up to bed just as soon as I check LHiS email! Your blog makes my day, and it is the ONLY one I subscribe to I won’t waste my time on anyone else’s blogs! As a busy mom of a 4yr old and 1.5yr old twins, forget it I only have eyes for your blog and no one elses~ ! Thanks!
Mignon, bread slicing just takes practice. I make my dough in my bread maker then bake in a professional long bread pan so I have sandwich sized slices instead of over-sized bread. (My kids don’t like “big bread”)
If you don’t want to eat wonky slices, you can get a bread guide – a board with with wooden dowels evenly spaced on either side. You cut between the dowels for nice straight, even slices. I’ve seen plastic versions at Walmart.
OK! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
I have NEVER successfully made bread in my bread machine (same one in your picture above), and I had given up and put it out in the shed. When I stumbled on this post, I got it out, dusted it off, and gave it a try. AMAZING! My kids are all eating it right now. 😉 Just perfect texture, shape, sliced very evenly with my electric knife (that I got 15 years ago and never use:) LOL! I can FINALLY make homemade bread for my family! I am gluten-free, so I bake a loaf for me in the oven, while the machine does the other one. (One of my loaves lasts me a few weeks, because I don’t eat much bread anymore). I couldn’t believe how quick and easy and SUCCESSFUL this was.
Thanks again!!
Spring
Spring- YAYAYAY!!!!!
I have been trying to make homemade whole wheat bread for my family for 4 months now (my poor husband has been very patient) and happened across this on a google search. THANK YOU!! I have made it twice now and it is perfect!! Finally whole wheat bread that’s not as heavy as a brick!!
This looks like a really great whole wheat bread recipe. I’ve already put it in my favorites and plan to try it next week. Thanks!