Do you bake bread without a machine? What is your favorite bread recipe?

I have baked bread for years and don't own a bread machine, never wanted one. If you're bread turned out dry, you may have put too much flour in it. Here's the basic recipe I use: 1 TBS or one package active dry yeast 1 TBS sugar 1 tsp salt Mix together in a large bowl. In a small pan, heat 1 cup of whole milk and 1 generous TBS of fat - lard, shortening or butter - until it's warmer than is comfortable, but not hot. Add this to the ingredients in the bowl and stir until the yeast is dissolved. Add a cup of flour and mix in; let the mixture set for about five minutes until the yeast begins to act. Add flour a little at a time until it becomes hard to stir, then turn out onto floured board and begin to knead in the rest of the flour. One loaf takes 3 - 4 cups. Quit adding flour when the dough quits being sticky. Knead another minute or two, then form a ball, grease the dough and let it rise in a warm place. After it's risen, punch it down and let it rise in bread pans. Start baking at 400 degrees, then turn the heat down to 350 after about 10 minutes. Bake until the top is browned and the loaf sounds hollow when you rap it with your knuckles, about 45 minutes to an hour.

no, we actually have a breadmaker that friends of ours gave to us for free! we make at least one loaf every week and generally have soup (homemade) with it. it is a great meal when its cold out!

good evening... it's already 9:20 p.m. here... i have baked a bread once but it end up with unsatisfying results.lol. obviously, we don't have bread machine so we usually call it homemade breads. anyway i want to share to you some homemade recipes of breads. hope you will like it... Homemade Bread SUBMITTED BY: Sandra Anderson "'WE BAKED at least two batches of bread each week for our family of six. We also spent hours (or so it seemed) churning the butter to spread on it, which we especially loved to do while it was still warm. Fried chicken never tasted quite as good without homemade bread-and-butter sandwiches.'" INGREDIENTS * 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast * 4 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees) * 6 tablespoons sugar * 2 tablespoons salt * 1/4 cup shortening, melted and cooled * 12 cups all-purpose flour, divided DIRECTIONS 1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar, salt and shortening; stir until dissolved. Add half the flour; beat until smooth and the batter sheets with a spoon. Mix in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough that cleans the bowl. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead 8-10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch dough down. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes. 2. Divide dough into four parts and shape into loaves. Place in four greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans and allow to cool on wire racks. If Cooking for Two: Wrap and freeze whole or sliced breads. Diabetic Exchanges: One serving (1 slice) equals 1 starch; also, 93 calories, 70 mg sodium, 0 mg cholesterol, 18 gm carbohydrate, 3 gm protein, 1 gm fat. -------------------------------------------- Fabulous Homemade Bread SUBMITTED BY: J. Drury PHOTO BY: chestnut "Best Homemade Bread - 6 loaves in less than 3 hours! This is a variation of my mother Elaine's recipe. She is 75, and still makes hers by hand. I cheat and use a Bosch mixer, that's my time saver." INGREDIENTS * 1/2 cup warm water * 3 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast * 1/4 cup bread flour * 1 tablespoon white sugar * 2 cups quick cooking oats * 2 cups whole wheat flour * 4 1/2 cups warm water * 1 1/2 tablespoons salt * 2/3 cup brown sugar * 2/3 cup vegetable oil * 10 cups bread flour DIRECTIONS 1. In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, stir together 1/2 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup bread flour, and yeast. Let grow for about 5 minutes. It will bubble almost immediately. 2. Measure oats, 4 1/2 cups warm water, whole wheat flour, salt, 2/3 cup sugar, and 2/3 cup oil into the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed with a dough hook for 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed slightly, and begin adding bread flour 1/2 to 1 cup at a time until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Humidity determines how much flour you need before the bread pulls away from the edge of the bowl. It is normal for the dough to be sticky. 3. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover with a damp cloth. Let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until doubled in size. 4. Divide dough into 6 pieces. Shape loaves, and place in greased 8 x 4 inch pans. Let rise until dough is 1 inch above rim of pans, usually 1 hour. 5. Bake at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until tops are browned. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. ---------------------------------------------- Homemade Wonderful Bread SUBMITTED BY: Danielle PHOTO BY: LESLEYfromWI "A white bread recipe without a strong yeast flavor. Proofing the yeast first eliminates some of the yeast taste from the final product." INGREDIENTS * 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast * 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) * 1 tablespoon white sugar * 4 cups all-purpose flour * 1/4 cup dry potato flakes * 1/4 cup dry milk powder * 2 teaspoons salt * 1/4 cup white sugar * 2 tablespoons margarine * 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) DIRECTIONS 1. Whisk together the yeast, 1/4 cup warm water and sugar. Allow to sit for 15 minutes. 2. Add ingredients in the order suggested by your manufacturer, including the yeast mixture. Select the basic and light crust setting.