Posted in Recipes

I don't know if I've ever shared this with you, but I have a "hate" relationship going with my breadmaker.  I saved my money and dreamed of a day when I could buy a breadmaker to help out with the bread-making (duh) around here, and it would "free me!"  Ahem.  Not so much.  I purchased one, and dreamed of the baked goods, pizza crusts, etc., that I would be making in no time (literally and figuratively speaking).

I brought that coveted machine home, prepped it, and read the manual.  It was too late to start anything that night, but bright and early the following morning I eagerly tackled my first loaf of bread.  Anticipation ran high throughout the home (we don't get out much), peeks were stolen through the top, and time was counted down.  It appeared all was well.  Until the timer 'ding'-ed and the lid was opened.  It had fallen.  I had failed.

As an aside here, let me tell you in all honesty (and with all humility, *snort*) that I fully expected my very first loaf to turn out P.E.R.F.E.C.T.ly.  I'm not kidding.  My relative success in the kitchen has given me, shall we say, relative arrogance.  *sigh*  So the first loaf's less-than-perfect appearance ticked me off.  I didn't question my method, I jumped right to blaming the machine.  It didn't matter that the family judged it tasty - it wasn't good enough for me.  So there.

Immediately (okay, maybe the next day) I combed through the directions and put another loaf in the machine.  Same. Stinking. Results.  And the same with the third loaf.  And fourth.  By now, I'm hopping mad.  WHY exactly had I coveted this thing??  Further conversation with a girlfriend did nothing except add fuel to my anger when she shook her head and exclaimed she had Never Had A Problem With Her Bread Machine.  But she sent me a list of things to troubleshoot.  None of them helped.  Not a one.

So, I put the dratted thing in the pantry and vowed to cool off before trying anything again, if I didn't give it to charity first.  Weeks (months) went by, and during a hectic baking day, I decided to give it another shot.  I had some pizza dough I wanted to make up and freeze, so I threw the ingredients in on the dough cycle.  No worries there - even if it did fall, so what?

Ahem.  Falling wasn't the problem this time.  When the 'ding'-er went off, I eagerly opened the lid to discover the thing-that-was-taking-over-my-machine.  Dough was E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.  Over the sides of the pan, all over the heating element, stuck to the sides of the maker.  I'm not a little ashamed to say that I got hopping mad (again), muttered under my breath about the machine that was obviously trying to drive me insane, threw dark looks at my children warning them to Stay Away, and in general threw a little fit for a good 10 minutes.  Yep.  That's me.

After that, I'm amazed that I decided to try my machine ever again, but I did, and had an Alleluia moment when I opened that lid.  You know the one:  light streaming down over your head, angels singing in their heavenly voices, and gratitude humming in your chest.  Because it Finally Worked.

So, now I have a love-hate relationship with my breadmaker (you don't think I can just forget all of its cruelties because of one success story, do you??).  I thought I'd share with you my successful recipe in case you had a breadmaker you hated too.  Even if you love yours, you can have this recipe too.  Even if you don't have a breadmaker, you can probably make this without a problem the old-fashioned way (my preferred method, to be honest).  This is a wonderful recipe, because you make it up the afternoon/evening before and set it to rise in the fridge so you can just take it out and pop it in the oven for breakfast the next day.  And it's amazing!!  I hope you enjoy it!

Cinnamon-Raisin Bread

1¼ c. warm water
1 tsp. salt
¼ c. brown sugar
2 Tbs. oil (I used melted butter)
3½ c. flour
2½ tsp. yeast

Put the ingredients in your bread machine in the order given, with the yeast in a little "well" in the center of the flour.  Set to dough cycle.  Let rise in the machine, then pull out and roll into a rectangle.  Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.  Roll up jelly roll style and fold seam down into a (well) greased loaf pan.  Cover with a tea towel and put in the dridge.  Let rise overnight and pull out to finish rising in the morning.  Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.

After rising overnight, before baking:

I don't start this before 3 p.m., as it rises far too much and gets airy when baked.  It's wonderful, though, to have your home smelling wonderfully when your family gets up.  Jigger's nose led him right to the bread this morning, even before he kissed me Good Morning.  Ü

So, try this recipe, and let me know if you like your breadmaker just a little.  And if you have a total love relationship with your breadmaker, I really don't want to hear about it.  Really.