French Bread

From: My bread machine manual

Ingredients:
9 1/2 oz water (1 cup + 3 Tbsp), 80 degrees
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter, cut into 4 pieces
2 tsp active dry yeast OR 1 1/2 tsp fast rise yeast
1 egg white, slightly beaten (optional)
1 tsp water (optional)
poppy or sesame seeds (optional)

Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer (usually liquid first, then dry ingredients, then butter around the sides, and yeast in a well in the middle). Cook on your bread machine's dough cycle. When it's done, pull it out and let it rest on a floured surface for 15 minutes.

Roll dough into a 15x12-inch rectangle. Roll up tightly from long side, seal and taper ends. Place seam side down on greased baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in warm, draft-free place for 45-55 minutes or until nearly double in size. With a sharp knife, make 3 or 4 1/4-inch deep diagonal cuts on top of loaf. Combine egg white with water and brush mixture on top of loaf (or you can use melted butter). Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds if desired.

Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly before slicing.

What I did differently from the recipe:
I used butter instead of the egg white and water mixture. I baked it for about 20 minutes, then took it out of the oven and added cheese-garlic spread on top. I also then sliced at the diagonal slices deeper than 1/4-inch and put the spread inside the bread as well. I then baked it about 5-7 more minutes to finish it.

What I'll do differently next time:
I would put more of the cheese spread in between slices of the bread. I only did a few slices like that this time because we had never tried that recipe and didn't know how it would turn out, but we loved it.

Verdict:
Absolutely amazing thumbs up. This was SUCH an easy recipe - time consuming, but easy enough. The crust was crispy, the inside was soft, the cheese-garlic spread added an incredible flavor... I can't say enough about this bread. We will DEFINITELY be making this again in the future!

Cinnamon Rolls

From: My bread machine's cookbook

Ingredients: (my bread machine is a 3-cup flour bread machine; if yours is too, this recipe should work for you)

3/4 cup milk
1 egg
3 cups bread flour
3 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter, cut into 8 pieces
2 tsp active dry yeast OR 1 1/2 tsp fast rise yeast

Filling:
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Add milk and egg to bread pan. Add bread flour, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt to pan. Tap pan to settle dry ingredients, then level dry ingredients, pushing some of the flour mixture into the corners. Place pieces of butter around edges of pan on top of dry ingredients. Make a slight well in the center of dry ingredients and add the yeast. Place bread pan into oven chamber. Lock pan in place and close cover. Program your bread to the Dough setting. Start the bread machine. When dough is done (usually about 1 hour), remove dough, place on a floured surface. Knead dough about 1 minute, then let rest about 15 minutes.

Roll dough out into a rectangle, about 15x10 inches. Spread 1/3 cup melted butter over dough to within 1 inch of edges. Then sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar, the cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped nuts evenly over dough. Roll dough up tightly on long side. Press edges to seal and form into a 12-inch long, evenly shaped roll. With a knife, cut roll into 1-inch pieces. Place rolls into a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled, about 30-45 minutes.

Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then drizzle with icing made by combining 1 cup powdered sugar with 1-2 tbsp milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Blend until smooth. If too thin or thick, add more powdered sugar or milk until it's the consistency you want. Cut apart and remove from pan.

If you want to make them at night and have them in the morning, just let them rise and then refrigerate them. Take them out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking and follow the rest of the recipe.

My rolls in the fridge last night:

My rolls this morning after being baked and iced:

Verdict:
Thumbs UP!! I didn't put any nuts in these because we don't like nuts, but I didn't change anything else. These took a while to make just waiting for the rising and stuff, but the actual "work" of the recipe was nothing. Stephen even said he would be happy if we never buy cinnamon rolls from the store again (which I'm too cheap to buy anyway, so that works!) Absolutely delicious and a must-make for us in the future!

Crescent Rolls

From: Bread Maker's Cookbook

Ingredients:
3/4 cup + 3 Tbsp water, 80 degrees
3 cups bread flour
2 Tbsp dry milk
3 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp butter, cut into 6 pieces
2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 1/2 tsp fast rise yeast


Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer (usually liquid first, then dry ingredients, then butter around the sides, and yeast in a well in the middle). Cook on your bread machine's dough cycle. When it's done, pull it out and let it rest on a floured surface for 15 minutes.

Divide dough into four equal pieces. Roll each piece into a circle 1/4-inch thick. Cut each circle into 6 pie shaped wedges. Roll each wedge from wide end to narrow tip. Curve ends to form crescent. Place on greased cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise until double in size, about 45 minutes to one hour. Brush with butter and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

What I did differently from this recipe:
Well, first of all I am not gifted enough to know how to "curve ends to form crescent", but I am gifted enough to realize that does not affect the taste! So I didn't do that!

What I'll do differently next time:
I used yeast that expired about a month ago. I've been using it and it was fine, but for the dough, I think I should have used new yeast. The rolls didn't quite rise as high as I'd like them too, but they were still delicious.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! See ya later, Pillsbury! I thought these were great, and between myself and Brianna (2 years old) we ate probably 7 or 8, plus a couple of dinner rolls that I made just for funsies. What can I say, we like bread! I'll definitely be making these again! Oh yes, and I do realize they don't exactly look like Pillsbury, but you know what... that's okay!

Garlic Bread

From: My breadmaker cookbook

Ingredients: (1 lb loaf)
3/4 cup water, 80 degrees
2 cups bread flour
2 tsp dry milk
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1-2 1/2 tsp (to taste) garlic powder
2 tsp, cut into 4 pieces of butter
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 tsp fast rise yeast

Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer (usually liquid first, then dry ingredients, then put the butter pats in the four corners, then put the yeast in a well in the middle. Cook according to your bread machine's manual.

Ingredients (1 1/2 lb loaf)
1 cup + 2 Tbsp water, 80 degrees
3 cups bread flour
1 Tbsp dry milk
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp dried parsley flakes
1 1/2 - 3 tsp (to taste) garlic powder
1 Tbsp, cut into 4 pieces, of butter
2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 1/2 tsp fast rise yeast

What I did differently from the recipe:
Nothing.

What I'll do differently next time:
Nothing.

Verdict:
Thumbs up!! Another hit with the bread machine! I made this one night when my sister and family came over for pizza, so no pictures were taken. I put in 2 tsp of garlic powder and it was perfect for me, but I do love my garlic. This is such a tasty bread for Italian night!!

Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bread

From: Bread Maker's cookbook

Ingredients: (1 lb loaf)
7 1/2 ounces (7/8 cup + 1 Tbsp) milk
2 cups bread flour
1/2 cups oats, quick or old-fashioned
1 Tbsp brown sugar, packed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 tsp fast rise yeast
1/3 cup raisins



Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer (usually liquid first, then dry ingredients, then put the butter pats in the four corners, then put the yeast in a well in the middle. Raisins will be added after the first kneading cycle.) Cook according to your bread machine's manual, usually a "sweet bread" setting.

Ingredients: (1 1/2 lb loaf)
10 ounces (1 1/4) milk
3 cups bread flour
3/4 cups oats, quick or old-fashioned
2 Tbsp brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter, cut into 4 pieces
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast or 1 1/2 tsp fast rise yeast
1/2 cup raisins



What I did differently from the recipe:
Nothing.

What I'll do differently next time:
Nothing.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Once again, I wish you could take pictures of smells. This smelled heavenly!! It is so delicious and again I say, I hope to never buy bread like this again! This is a definite yes for dessert options and breakfast options! YUM!

Old-Fashioned White Bread

From: My bread maker's cookbook

Ingredients: (1 lb loaf)
6 oz (3/4 cup) milk
2 cups bread flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 tsp fast rise yeast

Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Cook according to your bread machine's manual.

Ingredients (1 1/2 lb loaf)
9 oz (1 cup + 2 Tbsp) milk
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter, cut into 4 pieces
2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 1/2 tsp fast rise yeast

What I did differently from the recipe:
Nothing.

What I'll do differently next time:
Make the larger loaf so I don't run out of bread so quickly!!

Verdict:
Thumbs UP! So easy and so scrumptious! I will definitely be making this again! I don't even want to make bread by hand again or even buy it from the store again...