Beaver Island has many good things to make being here wonderful, but one of the best is my bread machine! Jim is off wheat/gluten and my bread machine in Chicago was lost in the fire. We agreed not to replace it. BUT, I love making (and eating) raisin bread. I've not had it since last October. I made it last night and couldn't wait to get up this morning for breakfast!
Lunch was a peanut butter and mini-chocolate chip sandwich on thin slices of raisin bread -- awesome. Yes, true confessions of a chocoholic. And despite the photo sequence, it isn't all gone (yet).
And as some noted, yes, Jim does 90% of the cooking -- he's a great cook and I know I'm lucky. His comment on this image:
"You should title it 'too much time on your hands.' I disagree...
Yum homemade raisin bread...life's guilty pleasures..I am glad you get to stop, relax and do the things that make you happy! Never enough time! Super collage!
So glad you have a chance to make a favorite of yours while at Beaver Island. Have been sending good thoughts your way knowing the 19th is fast approaching. *hugs*
That looks so delicious! I have a bread machine but try not to use it too much as I just have to have lots of butter on bread and it doesn't help when you are trying to diet! Not had raisin bread - I now have to find a recipe! Lol! Glad you are finding time to relax and enjoy yourself! Fav for such an appetizing collage!
It looks so yummmmy ! and a great collage telling the story of the short life of the Raisin Bread ! Fresh home made bread is one of my weaknesses -- but not very good for the waistline !
Not a raisin bread fan but bread is my all time #1 weakness. It was one of the first things I learned to bake. BUt bread machines are a wonderful invention and I use mine a lot especially in the winter.
@salza@pamknowler
Sally -- get out that machine! This is so easy! I have a 1 lb version...so basically follow your machine's directions for portion but here's what I do:
Liquids:
7/8 cup water room temp
1 TBSP vegetable or canola oil
1 TBSP honey
THEN:
2 1/2 cup flour (bread flour -- and I substitute 1/3 cup bread for whole grain)
1 tsp salt
Optional: 1 TBS or so of cinnamon
1 tsp yeast (in a little 'well' created in the flour, but not touching any liquid)
Turn machine on.
It beeps about 30 minutes later and I add:
1/2 to 3/4 cup of raisins
1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
And if I didn't put in cinnamon earlier, sometimes I mix it with raisins and walnuts in a bowl and then add it at that point.
EASY! You just have to be around for that 30 minute mark to add the goodies. No sugar, no bad oils. Only bad thing is the flour if you're watching gluten and I've not figured out a recipe using the gluten free stuff -- always tastes like cardboard. Excellent the second day toasted by the way.
@salza And, while I'm not as fond of it this way, you can substitute almost any dried fruit -- craisins, dried cherries, cranberries, etc., and almost any nut -- almonds, pecans, etc. The most important thing is fresh yeast and bread flour, I've learned. It's unforgiving re those, but forgiving for anything else you put in. Once you have the proportions down for your machine, you can have all kinds of variations (but I never do!).
@taffy Thanks Taffy I will give it a go - minus the cinnamon - really don't like it. I will get the dries fruit when we go shopping - i have everything else.
That looks and sounds utterly delicious, and I'm so pleased you listed the recipe above. As soon as I get home from holiday, that bread machine is coming out from the back of the cupboard and being put to work! Fabulous shots.
Looks delicious, I like your story telling. My husband is the bread maker in our house although he hasn't done much since we have been trying to diet!!!
@janiskay It's best with mini-chips (dark chocolate, of course) and chunky peanut butter, but in a pinch, any chocolate chip that is dark chocolate works well. Enjoy!!
Believe it or not you can actually make bread without a bread machine! But, it is so much easier. Raisin bread sounds delicious! I'll have to copy your recipe. Jeff is not a raisin lover but I am!
@olivetreeann Haha! I know! I made bread for years and refused to consider getting a machine. Then we got one from friends who had stayed with us for a while on the island and my life changed overnight! I hate to admit it, but I see no difference in taste (only in shape) with the machine versus without. I use it a lot to make the dough -- and then shape it into what I need (e.g., for baguettes, or Challah, or yeast sweet rolls). But I just love the machine!
@taffy Oh yes, I totally agree there's no difference in taste. It's so funny though how we get used to the machines. I have a hand mixer (not the Kitchen Aid kind) and once I though it was going on me so I stopped using it for awhile- boy did I miss it!! Turns out it was ok, I'd just used it on a super thick batter and the poor thing was over-worked. I bet you make a killer Challah!
Like you, Taffy, Ken's my go-to cook, especially since my accident! He's do SO well, I'd be reticent to let him stop! I'm the baker in the family, and I love baking up here. There's always someone who appreciates part of what I prepare, and then we can always have "fresh" on hand! It's a pleasure from a by-gone era, isn't it?
July 9th, 2015
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Sally -- get out that machine! This is so easy! I have a 1 lb version...so basically follow your machine's directions for portion but here's what I do:
Liquids:
7/8 cup water room temp
1 TBSP vegetable or canola oil
1 TBSP honey
THEN:
2 1/2 cup flour (bread flour -- and I substitute 1/3 cup bread for whole grain)
1 tsp salt
Optional: 1 TBS or so of cinnamon
1 tsp yeast (in a little 'well' created in the flour, but not touching any liquid)
Turn machine on.
It beeps about 30 minutes later and I add:
1/2 to 3/4 cup of raisins
1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
And if I didn't put in cinnamon earlier, sometimes I mix it with raisins and walnuts in a bowl and then add it at that point.
EASY! You just have to be around for that 30 minute mark to add the goodies. No sugar, no bad oils. Only bad thing is the flour if you're watching gluten and I've not figured out a recipe using the gluten free stuff -- always tastes like cardboard. Excellent the second day toasted by the way.