Comments on: Operation Bread Making – Success! http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/ Our Journey to a Debt-Free Life Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:04:04 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Annie http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-517491 Annie Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:24:56 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-517491 I'm loving my bread machine also, but keep a loaf of costco bread in the freezer for emergencies. One of the things I struggle with is how to slice it- I can get thick slices, but they are often a bit much for a sandwich. Any suggestions? I’m loving my bread machine also, but keep a loaf of costco bread in the freezer for emergencies. One of the things I struggle with is how to slice it- I can get thick slices, but they are often a bit much for a sandwich. Any suggestions?

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516908 Tricia Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:43:32 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516908 Rich - thanks for the link! :) Rich – thanks for the link! :)

]]> By: Kacie http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516871 Kacie Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:59:30 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516871 That sounds wonderful! The other day, I made my first loaf of bread. I used a bread machine that had been sitting in my closet for a long time. I've got to admit, I was pretty intimidated by the whole process. I was worried I'd kill the yeast or something. It turned out great! I also have the dough attachment to my KitchenAid, but I think I'll stick with my bread machine for now since it does everything. That sounds wonderful! The other day, I made my first loaf of bread. I used a bread machine that had been sitting in my closet for a long time.

I’ve got to admit, I was pretty intimidated by the whole process. I was worried I’d kill the yeast or something.

It turned out great!

I also have the dough attachment to my KitchenAid, but I think I’ll stick with my bread machine for now since it does everything.

]]> By: rhonda jean http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516823 rhonda jean Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:39:11 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516823 I bake bread most days and I agree, it is empowering, and much cheaper. The bonus for me though is that my bread contains NO preservatives. I have a recipe for bread rolls and a bread making tutorial on my blog. I bake bread most days and I agree, it is empowering, and much cheaper. The bonus for me though is that my bread contains NO preservatives. I have a recipe for bread rolls and a bread making tutorial on my blog.

]]> By: Rich http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516280 Rich Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:20:11 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516280 I just found an article with rough estimates of the cost of running an oven (link below). According to the article, it costs about 43 cents per hour. A few other household appliances are in the article too. Of course it varies depending on the wattage and age of your appliances. Nothing about a mixer, though...I would assume it might be comparable to a blender which runs 8.4 cents per hour, so it may be negligable. Bonus question: Who runs blenders for an hour? :) http://tinyurl.com/3o7onw I just found an article with rough estimates of the cost of running an oven (link below). According to the article, it costs about 43 cents per hour. A few other household appliances are in the article too. Of course it varies depending on the wattage and age of your appliances. Nothing about a mixer, though…I would assume it might be comparable to a blender which runs 8.4 cents per hour, so it may be negligable.

Bonus question: Who runs blenders for an hour? :)

http://tinyurl.com/3o7onw

]]> By: Rich http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516276 Rich Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:10:58 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516276 But then there are comments like that from your son, which are worth any cost! :) But then there are comments like that from your son, which are worth any cost! :)

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516164 Tricia Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:54:44 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516164 Rich - yes, good point. There is that convenience factor and the electricity. I wish there was a good way to figure that out to be able to add in that cost. I'd be curious to see what is *really* comes to. Today, my son wanted a piece of the bread with jelly for his after dinner snack. He told me, "Thank you for making this bread. It is so good!" That made me feel like a million dollars. Of course, he may have said that since both loaves are almost gone and he wants me to make more! LOL. Rich – yes, good point. There is that convenience factor and the electricity. I wish there was a good way to figure that out to be able to add in that cost. I’d be curious to see what is *really* comes to.

Today, my son wanted a piece of the bread with jelly for his after dinner snack. He told me, “Thank you for making this bread. It is so good!” That made me feel like a million dollars.

Of course, he may have said that since both loaves are almost gone and he wants me to make more! LOL.

]]> By: Jen http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516093 Jen Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:42:36 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516093 Rich, that's a good point. I know for some of us who make our own bread, etc. it's worth the time that we put into it to have control over the ingredients in our food. Rich, that’s a good point. I know for some of us who make our own bread, etc. it’s worth the time that we put into it to have control over the ingredients in our food.

]]> By: Rich http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516090 Rich Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:09:52 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516090 Just be careful Tricia with what you make yourself. A lot of times it comes out cheaper to buy. Remember you ahve to use power for the stove and also for the mixer, which will eat into any savings you get from not buying. Also, what could you be doing in the time you are spending an hour to save $1 that might make you more money than that? Sorry for the reality check...but I had to say something. :) Just be careful Tricia with what you make yourself. A lot of times it comes out cheaper to buy. Remember you ahve to use power for the stove and also for the mixer, which will eat into any savings you get from not buying. Also, what could you be doing in the time you are spending an hour to save $1 that might make you more money than that?

Sorry for the reality check…but I had to say something. :)

]]> By: SweetTxMama http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-516083 SweetTxMama Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:29:46 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-516083 I started making my own bread about a year ago and switched to sour dough because the whole family loves it. It takes a week to start out the starter but it is so good. It does feel really empowering knowing that a major staple like this can be made at home. After I realized that a little research is all you need to find great homemade items like this, I started testing other things and now make kosher pickles (which takes around 10 minutes) and is at least 1/3 cheaper than the store equivalent. Next up is power bars. I started making my own bread about a year ago and switched to sour dough because the whole family loves it. It takes a week to start out the starter but it is so good. It does feel really empowering knowing that a major staple like this can be made at home. After I realized that a little research is all you need to find great homemade items like this, I started testing other things and now make kosher pickles (which takes around 10 minutes) and is at least 1/3 cheaper than the store equivalent. Next up is power bars.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515993 Lisa Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:34:08 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515993 This is so funny since I just made bread for the first time a few days ago! Mine turned out really good too, despite the fact I am horrible cook. congrats! This is so funny since I just made bread for the first time a few days ago! Mine turned out really good too, despite the fact I am horrible cook. congrats!

]]> By: Always In Style http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515920 Always In Style Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:30:29 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515920 That is so cool! I've just started cooking a lot lately to cut down expenses but I hadn't even thought of baking bread. You've totally inspired me :) That is so cool!

I’ve just started cooking a lot lately to cut down expenses but I hadn’t even thought of baking bread. You’ve totally inspired me :)

]]> By: Jane http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515912 Jane Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:54:29 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515912 If you shop at Sam's (and probably also at Costco, though we don't have one here so I don't know), you can get yeast in bundles of 2 one lb. packages. It costs around $4. and comes out to a few cents a tablespoon (scant tablespoon = 1 pkt yeast). I keep it in a glass jar in the freezer, will keep a L-O-N-G time and works fine after freezing. Congrats on the successful first bread making! Now you can make ANYTHING. If I want buns, soft pretzels, rolls, tortillas, breadsticks, etc. I don't have to run to the store. It's a great time and space saver, being able to make your own of all these things. If you shop at Sam’s (and probably also at Costco, though we don’t have one here so I don’t know), you can get yeast in bundles of 2 one lb. packages. It costs around $4. and comes out to a few cents a tablespoon (scant tablespoon = 1 pkt yeast). I keep it in a glass jar in the freezer, will keep a L-O-N-G time and works fine after freezing.

Congrats on the successful first bread making! Now you can make ANYTHING. If I want buns, soft pretzels, rolls, tortillas, breadsticks, etc. I don’t have to run to the store. It’s a great time and space saver, being able to make your own of all these things.

]]> By: DJM http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515909 DJM Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:37:39 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515909 Mark Bittman, the New York Times food writer, published a recipe for "No Knead Bread" a while back and it was the "most emailed" story on their site for a long, long time. (I know that we passed the recipe amongst my family and friends). I encourage you to give it a try: No-Knead Bread Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast 1 1/4 teaspoons salt Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed. 1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees. 2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes. 3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger. 4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack. Yield: One 1½-pound loaf. Mark Bittman, the New York Times food writer, published a recipe for “No Knead Bread” a while back and it was the “most emailed” story on their site for a long, long time. (I know that we passed the recipe amongst my family and friends). I encourage you to give it a try:

No-Knead Bread

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.
Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

]]> By: MoneyBeagle http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515906 MoneyBeagle Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:37:18 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515906 My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'll have to print this out and see if it's something we can try. Sounds like a perfect thing to do in the upcoming winter! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I’ll have to print this out and see if it’s something we can try. Sounds like a perfect thing to do in the upcoming winter!

]]> By: Elithea http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515794 Elithea Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:38:30 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515794 Check out http://www.tammysrecipes.com/homemade_wheat_bread It's the best homemade bread I've ever made and it comes out perfect every time. Good Luck! Check out http://www.tammysrecipes.com/homemade_wheat_bread

It’s the best homemade bread I’ve ever made and it comes out perfect every time.

Good Luck!

]]> By: Joy Smith http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515776 Joy Smith Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:26:12 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515776 I love homemade bread. :D I would love to hear how the sandwich bread making goes! I love homemade bread. :D I would love to hear how the sandwich bread making goes!

]]> By: Matt http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515724 Matt Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:39:22 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515724 For someone who used to go out for food all the time the idea of making something like bread from scratch can seem very daunting. Thanks for proving otherwise. I've managed to get into the cooking habit now might be a time to try making something from scratch. For someone who used to go out for food all the time the idea of making something like bread from scratch can seem very daunting. Thanks for proving otherwise. I’ve managed to get into the cooking habit now might be a time to try making something from scratch.

]]> By: Jen http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515704 Jen Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:15:48 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515704 Curtis: I'd love to try making bagels, can you share your recipe? Curtis: I’d love to try making bagels, can you share your recipe?

]]> By: Gay http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515703 Gay Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:15:32 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515703 Yeah for your first loaves of bread. Be careful though. Homemade bread tastes so good, you start to eats lots of it and can gain weight!!! That happened to me. ;) Yeah for your first loaves of bread. Be careful though. Homemade bread tastes so good, you start to eats lots of it and can gain weight!!! That happened to me. ;)

]]> By: Curtis http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515701 Curtis Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:14:57 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515701 I started making bread for the family a while back as well (I've always enjoyed baking). Another simple and easy task to try is bagels. They are SOOO good when they are fresh, and they aren't as hard to make as you think! I started making bread for the family a while back as well (I’ve always enjoyed baking). Another simple and easy task to try is bagels. They are SOOO good when they are fresh, and they aren’t as hard to make as you think!

]]> By: Jen http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515699 Jen Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:07:07 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515699 Congrats! I started baking my own bread this fall after reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle." It's SO easy to do with a stand mixer! One thing that cuts my costs even further since I bake often is to buy a jar of yeast. It's *so* much cheaper than buying the packets. C: At our Stop & Shop you can actually buy a jar of MSG!! Congrats! I started baking my own bread this fall after reading “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.” It’s SO easy to do with a stand mixer!
One thing that cuts my costs even further since I bake often is to buy a jar of yeast. It’s *so* much cheaper than buying the packets.

C: At our Stop & Shop you can actually buy a jar of MSG!!

]]> By: C http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/09/operation-bread-making-success/comment-page-1/#comment-515636 C Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:45:23 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/?p=1504#comment-515636 Yeah Tricia. I checked out the web site you linked and I will have to use it. Recently, I am all about using the basic ingredients, since the store processed foods have too much unknown ingredients........sodium, MSG, etc. Thanks for tip and glab to know that the bread turned out good. I'll give my hand a try. :) Yeah Tricia. I checked out the web site you linked and I will have to use it. Recently, I am all about using the basic ingredients, since the store processed foods have too much unknown ingredients……..sodium, MSG, etc. Thanks for tip and glab to know that the bread turned out good. I’ll give my hand a try. :)

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