My first attempt at bread with a bread machine

[Katie H]

I still have my first bread machine I bought in 1999 and another one, nearly identical, that I purchased at a thrift store for $2. I don't think it had ever been used since the cord was still neatly coiled with what appeared to be the original securing tie.

I use them both regularly, many times at the same time. However, I've never used them to complete the full bread-making cycle. I use them strictly for kneading and the first rise.

I've had arthritis in both my hands for years and the kneading just kills me, plus I've discovered that the machine does a far better job kneading than I ever did. This was confirmed when I spoke to one of the resident bakers at the King Arthur Flour folks.

One of the pluses, for me, is that I can put in enough ingredients in my machine to make two normal-sized loaves of bread, instead of the one the machine would've made on its own.

I like to multi-task, which means that I can be doing something else while the machine is "using my time" to knead and set the first rise of the dough. That's especially helpful during the holidays when I make tons of breads, rolls, etc. to give as gifts. That's also when both my machines get heavy-duty workouts.

I'd be lost without my helpful electronic workhorses.