Tag Archives: bread machine

Driving, Routines and Failures

01 Friday Mar 2024

Posted by in Daily Life, Daily Message

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routines.” ― Mike Murdock

I am now back in NY. We left at 2am Saturday morning and got home before 8pm.
The driving was not too bad. We stopped every 4 hours to switch drivers, gas up, eat and walk around.

There were two instances that reminded me that I really don’t like driving:

1- Road Rage. There were two people break checking each other, and then they stopped at a traffic light and one of them got out of his car.  I am glad the other driver didn’t engage.  The light turned green and he got back to his car and off they went.   

2- Accident: A little car thought it could sneak in ahead of a truck as the lanes merged  on the George Washington bridge.  I was driving next to the truck and behind the small car.  No one got hurt, but the small car had to be towed. Remind me not to ever take the upper level again. There are no trucks allowed in the lower level.

Back in the NY home, it has been hard to get back into a routine. I was in Florida for only 6 weeks, but it was enough to make me feel a little lost now.  I specially miss my bike.

Even my baking has suffered.  I tried making the pound cake again, but it was a failure.  A tasty failure, but still a failure.  My mistake was trying to add a few drops of vanilla extract after the machine had started mixing it. 

Lesson learned.  Do not open the machine at the wrong times. I will be making pound cake again… after I return from Colorado 🙂

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ― Thomas A. Edison

The baking continues

27 Saturday Jan 2024

Posted by in Daily Life, Daily Message, Food

≈ 62 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Irish soda bread

Irish soda bread

My love affair with my bread machine and making breads and cakes continues.

I have been making mostly whole wheat breads.  The one with honey and molasses is my favorite.

White bread and Irish soda bread

White bread and Irish soda bread

I made the above white loaf on the bread machine.  The Irish soda bread I made in the oven, as it doesn’t involve any kneading or rising.

They both came out great.  The white bread is simple and great for sandwiches.

The soda bread came out great, but still I think I will add some more sweetness to the it. 

There is a soda bread that I love, from a bakery that is over 1 hour away from my home. So I am not able to buy it as often as I would like.  I search for that taste.  It is probably not the original soda bread, but I want to get as close to that taste as I can.

Pound cake

Pound cake

The above is a pound cake I made in the bread machine.  Even though it doesn’t look all that, it is delicious.  Because I cannot follow any recipe and I always have to add my own twist, I added a couple of drops of vanilla extract and a couple of teaspoons of chocolate.  That is why it came out with that color.

I plan on doing this same recipe again and probably adding a drop of coconut or almond extract, or more chocolate.

Tomorrow I plan on making a chocolate cake and frosting, not in the bread machine.  Stay tuned for the pictures.

Happily learning to use my bread maker

14 Sunday Jan 2024

Posted by in Daily Life, Food

≈ 50 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.” ― James Beard

One of my Christmas gifts, from my sister, was a bread maker.  I had mentioned wanting to buy one for the longest time, but never did. I was not sure I would really use it. 

I have been using it non-stop.  As soon as we got to Florida, Michael ordered one for the house.  He also got an air-fryer and toaster-over, two other appliances that I love.

In NY I made a whole wheat bread with molasses and honey, and also a chocolate cake.  I made the whole wheat bread 3 times.  It is so good. 

The chocolate cake was good, but I think I like better in the over and I can make a larger one.  I filled the cake with 2 different fillings, one with coconut cream, and the other chocolate fudge cream.  I frosted with chocolate ganache. All the chocolate made from scratch. So delicious!

Here in Florida, I made a 100% whole wheat bread.  This one had only whole wheat flour and honey.  It didn’t contain white flour, molasses and the hint of chocolate, like the one in NY.  Michael liked this one even better.

This morning I made a Rye bread, Michael’s favorite bread. I don’t care for rye bread and specially caraway seeds, so I used only one teaspoon of it, instead of two.  Next time I will use two.

Next I will make a white loaf. I also want to try Irish soda bread.

“All sorrows are less with bread. ”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Here are are some pictures:

First Bread made: Whole Wheat with molasses and honey

First Bread made: Whole Wheat with molasses and honey

Chocolate cake with coconut and chocolate

Chocolate cake with coconut and chocolate

100% whole wheat bread (ps. the whipped cream can is for my coffee)

100% whole wheat bread (ps. the whipped cream can is for my coffee)

Rye bread

Rye bread

Rye bread with some caraway seeds

Rye bread with some caraway seeds

Sunday breakfast

Sunday breakfast