Average Jane Bakes Bread

This morning it occurred to me to pull out my bread machine and use it to bake a loaf of bread. I got on Pinterest and found this recipe for garlic cheese bread, which seemed workable once I read the comments. Here it is with my slight modifications:

Garlic Herb Cheese Bread

• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1 Tbsp. melted butter
• 2 Tbsp. cream cheese
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning (I used bouquet garni)
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 2 tsp. Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic (or equivalent)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
• 3 cups of any kind of shredded cheese*

Put all ingredients in the bread machine in their suggested order, turn it on and go away (or stick around and watch for a while until you get bored). Enjoy the smells of garlic, yeast and cheese permeating your house for the next several hours. Once the loaf has baked and cooled, cut it into large chunks and serve with soup or just by itself.

*I used about a cup of shredded cheddar, 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup of grated parmesan and a cup of grated aged gouda. I recommend using at least one strongly-flavored cheese.

I am not exaggerating when I say I have one of the oldest bread machines you can have. I bought it at a garage sale for $5 about a decade ago and although it's laughably retro and huge, it still makes excellent bread.

The machine generally stays in the pantry, but I really should get it out more often because it's lovely to be able to put ingredients in, walk away, and come back to fresh bread in the afternoon.

Comments

[Keith]

Don't know about you, but I always find that home bread machine bread is more cakey than bread ?

[Average Jane]

Keith - The machine does work the dough a lot more than you would if you were making it the regular way, so the texture ends up very fine and even. This batch was a little more cakey toward the top of the loaf and bready further down.

[magpie]

Mmm - I tend to use my bread machine for the mix/knead/first rise, and then do the second rise in the pan and bake it in the oven. It's a tiny bit more work, but the texture is better.

(Just voted for your Room at BlogHer...)