A bread winning success !!

[robgraham]

Apart from the fact that I got clipped round the ear early on for implying that my wife kept on moaning, the outcome of all your contributions was that I then got a pat on the head as her next effort was successful, almost I think for the first time.

What did it ? A crushed Vit C tablet and, following the advise from Peter on his experience with the Morphy Richards, the yeast was put in with the water instead of being added at the end - the instruction book was adamant that its sequence should be followed !!

Many thanks for all your contribution, guys - the query produced far more responses than I did ever expect and I hope others got something out of it too. A particular thanks to the Vit C recommenders and to Peter for his experience.

Rob

[Toby]

FYI you can buy Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the supermarket in powdered from.

[Roger Dewhurst]

Of course you put the yeast in with the water, and sugar too. You have to get the yeast working, particularly in cold weather or if the yeast is not very fresh. The stuff is alive, or should be, and you have to feed it with sugar and water before it will do anything for you. A bit of vitamin C and even a bit of Marmite will help the yeast to start reproducing and metabolising. Principles mate. Read the chapter on yeasts in a textbook on plant physiology. Figure out what does what and why and then make your own rules. I make my own beer and only have ever had one bum brew, in about 20 years, and that was when I did not follow my own rules.

R

[Andy Burns]

Similar to the O/P the instructions to my breadmaker state the water must be put in first, followed by flour, then the yeast and sugar (in one corner) and salt (in the opposite corner).

However unlike the O/P's missus, I have only had one "brick" that didn't rise properly.

[pete]

... and yet the instructions for the Pano SD254[1] give a different order: yeast / flour / sugar / butter / salt / water. With a note that the yeast should not mix with the water (until later). Though whether this happens in practise I cannot say. I guess what we learn is that the recipes and order of ingrediants is dependent on the type of machine and the sequence it goes through in the breadmaking process. Not trying to start an argument - merely noting that different machines have different recipes.

[1] Which we have, use regularly and always get a result. Manual downloadable in PDF for those who wish to Google for it.

[Cicero]

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The instructions for my Kenwood seem to say almost the same thing:

Yeast is available both fresh and dried. All the recipes in this book (Kenwood Recipe Book) have been tested using easy blend, fast action dried yeast which does not require dissolving in water first. It is placed in a well in the flour where it is kept dry and separate from the liquid until mixing commences.

Cic.

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[dennis]

If you want to use the delayed start function then you have to keep the yeast out of the water until it is time to start the machine. If you aren't doing a delayed start it doesn't matter. I am using the 50p packs of wholemeal mix ATM (from asda) to make dough and then cooking them as rolls of various shapes and sizes.

[Usenet Nutter]

While we are on this subject can I ask what you folk use to slice machine or oven baked bread . I have a good bread knife but would like something to help me slice it evenly ...using the knife alone is a bit hit 'n miss. I think I have seen things that you sit the loaf in and the knife goes in to a slot but can't recall where I saw it .

[S Viemeister]

[Rod]

A bread knife.

About the only thing I do differently is put the loaf on its side.

[Usenet Nutter]

Thx ....Could almost make one like that with decent wood .lol

[OG]

Putting the yeast in with the water means that you can't use the delay timer. That's the only reason I can see for that instruction.

Very happy with our Morphy Richards BTW, apart from the circlip that disappeared after about 18 months and the pig headdedness of the 'customer service' department who could sell me a new tin, but not offer anything to repair the one I already have.

Personally I only ever use Vitamin C for 100% wholemeal bread/dough - so that means just the once!

[Old Git]

We use an electric slicer, the domestic bacon slicer type machine.

[Dave Liquorice]

Scalloped edge and sharp?

Practice but warm fresh bread is not easy to cut, it's too soft and squidgy.

[Usenet Nutter]

Both

You're dead right there ..:-)

[Usenet Nutter]

And speaking of Lakeland they have a sale on incl Skyline Urensils ....remember them folks ?

[Andy Burns]

Pattern welded steel?

[Usenet Nutter]

Surprised nobody has mentioned using an angle grinder :-)

[Bob Minchin]

How else would we diyers carve the turkey?

Bob

[geoff]

Goose this year

anyone have any good recipes ?