Club Breadmakers

[micollh]

csc:

micollh:

sat i bake milk loaf .. then while it starts toasting. i throw in two slices of ceddar cheese on top.. and woah.. to my surprise.. it turned out so good.. the smell is like cheese bread.. heee.. maybe next round i should put in shredded cheese while it is kneading? anyone tried that?

Yup I tried it last Friday and I added shredded cheese (increase to 1/2 cup) and minced red onion. Wow ...it tasted delicious...my hub was impressed ...with the machine and how much it can do! :imcool:

u add the yellow onion? sounds good.. maybe i can add too heee.. it's fun to mix and match with ingredients with the machines.. love it

[petegrin]

hello everyone,


Can I join in the fun here? I have longed to get a bread machine long ago, then saw this thread and it's so amazing! I decided to pop over to OG to get the Z machine at the special price!

Tried first time, the basic bread seemed abit heavy and dense although got some fluffiness.

Tried second time, top is much softer now, but bottom still a little dense. Is it flour problem or yeast problem?! :scratchhead:
Also realised I need to get a bread knife too to cut nicely! But overall, it's a good and easy experience making the bread. Must try harder ...

http://i53.tinypic.com/14147xf.jpg\">

Can some shifus give some advice how to improve the softness?

[petegrin]

WCW:

petegrin, ur bread looks yummy


u shld try test ur yeast with water to see the freshness, put some yeast in the water. if there is bubbles means it's fresh and ok to use, so might not be yeast prob...
then u have to ask the z machine shifus here

the taste is quite nice, cocoa with raisins

The yeast I used is the instant kind, as that's what I could only find at NTUC. It's a fresh pack, but I dun seem to see got bubbles leh. But my bread did rise, so it means the yeast is not dead right? Is it the amount to put in should be different from the actual recipe?

[pixiedust]

petegrin, nice looking bread !

I am no shifu and I am not using z-machine but I tried various combinations over the years, here’s my 2cents worth :

1) You used "saf-instant" dry baker’s yeast ? If you are not using timer function, it doesn’t matter but if you are using timer - put the yeast in a different corner from the salt as salt inhibts rising.

2) You need to mix the yeast with some water to see bubbles - this is only necessary if you want to test if your yeast is still "alive".

3) For your bread, since you added cocoa and rasins, and you mentioned the bottom is dense - I suspect it is the weight of the loaf + the cycle you selected. This one needs some help from the z-machine experts. When did you add the cocoa and rasins to the bread pan ? I’ll suggest you bake a basic loaf ie. no added cocoa, rasins first and see how is the rise…slowly you will learn the "behaviour" of your machine.

[petegrin]

pixiedust:

petegrin, nice looking bread !

I am no shifu and I am not using z-machine but I tried various combinations over the years, here's my 2cents worth :

1) You used \"saf-instant\" dry baker's yeast ? If you are not using timer function, it doesn't matter but if you are using timer - put the yeast in a different corner from the salt as salt inhibts rising.

2) You need to mix the yeast with some water to see bubbles - this is only necessary if you want to test if your yeast is still \"alive\".

3) For your bread, since you added cocoa and rasins, and you mentioned the bottom is dense - I suspect it is the weight of the loaf + the cycle you selected. This one needs some help from the z-machine experts. When did you add the cocoa and rasins to the bread pan ? I'll suggest you bake a basic loaf ie. no added cocoa, rasins first and see how is the rise...slowly you will learn the \"behaviour\" of your machine.

yes, i used the \"saf-instant\" yeast. will try and put the salt in a corner the next round. i was following the basic chocolate bread recipe, but used raisins instead of chocolate chips. Will be trying again, following your sugg. Thanx. See if it will be better

[pixiedust]

Just to share I baked a 100% wholemeal loaf, the remaining dough, I made into rolls and topped with some cheese. I used the dough cycle of my breadmachine then hand-shaped :


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cu2JjLkzadI/Ti4bI8tRcnI/AAAAAAAAAA8/mOcBLb9XUtw/bread.jpg\">

[L-earner]

前辈s, why do some bread recipes call for ‘cake flour’ to be added? What does cake flour do to the texture of th bread? Pls enlighten.

[jtoh]

pixiedust:

Just to share I baked a 100% wholemeal loaf, the remaining dough, I made into rolls and topped with some cheese. I used the dough cycle of my breadmachine then hand-shaped :


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cu2JjLkzadI/Ti4bI8tRcnI/AAAAAAAAAA8/mOcBLb9XUtw/bread.jpg\">

I like!!!!!

[pixiedust]

Thank you jtoh.


L-earner : Cake flour has lower gulten and generally used when bakers need a lighter, less sticky texture. This article explains a bit more :
http://hubpages.com/hub/The_difference_between_cake_flour__all_purpose_flour_and_bread_flour_Which_do_you_need__and_why

[L-earner]

pixiedust:

Thank you jtoh.


L-earner : Cake flour has lower gulten and generally used when bakers need a lighter, less sticky texture. This article explains a bit more :
http://hubpages.com/hub/The_difference_between_cake_flour__all_purpose_flour_and_bread_flour_Which_do_you_need__and_why

Tks pixiedust :love: