So tell me please, how hard is it really? We have a bread maker that I confess I have only used once and it was, how shall I say it, a disaster? Flat, totally not risen, dry, just ugh.

I'd really like to try it again. Do any of you have any advice for bread making that might contribute to a better experience this time around?

Check the dates on all your stuff!!

You want good yeast...good flour etc.

Make sure your water is good n warm but NOT too hot......and try the Amish Bread Recipe I have posted....it's the simplest..and our families favorite!


I'll bump if for you

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Thank you! I only use organic wheat flour. Maybe that was the problem, that all flours aren't interchangeable? I freely admit that, while I consider myself to be a pretty good cook, I am not a baker at all (but I'd like to change that!).

I am going to try the Amish Bread tomorrow.

Did you try to make it overnight or bake it right away? I have trouble doing the overnight setting if it is humid in the house.

I agree with making sure everything especially the yeast is fresh.

When I first started I had the same problem. I had read somewhere that you could use either bread machine yeast or just the regular dry active yeast, but that was wrong. If you are using regular yeast you need to add a little more. This is what my guide said and is how much yeast I have been using. If it calls for 3/4 tsp of bread machine yeast put in 1 tsp of regular dry active yeast. If it calls for 1 tsp, use 1 1/2 tsp of regular dry active yeast. If it calls for 1 1/2, use 2 tsp.

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It wasn't overnight but I did make it using the delay by several hours. I'll try doing it right away this time.

Yup, didn't know that either. I just used regular yeast. I think that's all I have this time too, so I'll increase & see if that helps.

Cross your fingers, everyone!

Well, it smelled great (and tasted pretty good too) but it came out totally flat. Totally flat across the top. No lovely rise across the top.

My experience is the order that the ingredients are placed in the maker. Read your instruction book and if you can't find it go to the website and see what they say.

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A Family of 5's quest to forget the Joneses.

Keep trying. My first 5 or 6 loaves weren't good for one reason or another.

This website is really good and has some trouble shooting things on it, too.
BreadMachineDigest.com

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I did that, even had the manual open in front of me while I did it. No good. It's so frustrating because I am a good cook, if I do say so myself! LOL People rave on my cooking. I just evidently can't bake! (Although I can make some delish brownies & choc chip cookies... )