good bread recipe needed

[tweenyb]

hi all, how are you today?

imall set for a nice home mae loaf but am going nuts as every loaf recipe i have tried via bread machine book, cook books andthe net are heavy or sink, is there a recipe that will give me bread like you get at the bakers?
tried and tested recipe is needed please

hope your havin a great day x

[woofgang]

if all your recipes are heavy and or sinking, check the date on your yeast and be meticulous in your measurement of liquids, which includes any oils fats added including solid ones like butter.

[thugulike]

Are you using strong flour? It is a must for bread.

[ayabrea38]

Check the temp of the water you are using.I have a horrid kitcken that too cold in winter and silly hot in summer.Hand warm water can range from straight out the cold tap in this wether or from the kettle in winter.22 deg C works.BTW I used some packet yeast that was 3 years out of date and it worked great!
P.S.You are using yeast for a machine ain't you?Sorry just had to ask-made that mistake myself :)))

[merciasounds]

You're not working the dough enough!! It's not a whimpy just folding and turning, you really need to stretch the dough, turn and press hard with the heel of your hand, get the gluten working, you should feel like you've had a good work-out afterwards! Leave to 'prove' in a bowl covered with a cloth in a warm place. Knock back, and you can let it 'prove' again if you like before baking. Never use anything hotter than blood heat to get the yeast working, and don't forget a little sugar to feed the yeast to get it working. If using dry yeast check the date, and the flour. don't keep opening the oven door either. If using a bread maker, check the lid closes properly and let it cool before you try and cut it. Hope this helps.

[tweenyb]

Hiya
Thanks for responding to my question :0)
Ive only just got the machine this year andhave got though copious amounts of everything practising making bread so everything is within date.
I am using a bread machine, bread flour and dried yeast along with sugar, salt and water all as per the guidelines.
ayabrea38 you say about using yeast foe a bread machine, i wasnt aware that there was a difference.
Think ill buy a thermometer when i go to town rather than guessing at water temps.

thanks to you all oce again

T xx

[rowanwitch]

Put your bread machine where it won't be affected by changes in room temperature so much i.e away from windows. draughts, and cookers, ordinary dried yeast should be fine, if you are having problems with rising either add a little more sugar or a little less salt changing the amount in stages until you get the amount of rise you like...if the above doesn't work and if your recipe doesn't include it reduce your flour by about a rounded teaspoonful and replace with a tablespoon of dried milk powder

[Old_Geezer]

Never found a need for special machine yeast. I have always thought, and had no experience to contradict, bread yeast is bread yeast and works.

I feel the problem must be in the ingredients used since temperature etc, are set by the machine. Yeast being the likely culprit. But any old ingredients or incorrect quantities will make the bread less than optimum.

Try a simple recipe until you have found the cause of your problem. I'd guess the machine came with a few.

[rowanwitch]

Bread machines are badly affected by external temperature especially the cheaper and smaller ones

[thugulike]

Try a ready made mix. Asda do the Hovis mixes. If that doesn't work then your machine is likely to be faulty.