jalapeno cheese bread

I love my bread machine. The thing is, it's too large to keep out on the kitchen counter, so I only dig it out of its cluttered spot at the back of the cabinet every once in a while.  But when I do, man oh man, does that baby know how to make bread.  It's super convenient, dumping in the ingredients and turning it on, but since I'm a tactile kinda girl, I miss the kneading, the touch of the dough in my hands.

Here's one of my tried and true recipes.  I just made it last night, and it won't live to see another day.  It's mildly spicy, moist and irresistible, perfect party food with beer, wine, or a frosty margarita.

Jalapeno Cheese Bread

3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup water
2 eggs
2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp sugar
4 cups flour
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
1 small can diced jalapeno peppers
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Toss the above in the bread machine, light crust setting, press start...3 hours 15 minutes later...presto chango...yum!

Little Bread Beast

A few years ago, I bought a bread machine. It was one of those
crazy things I bought on a whim, not knowing if I would like it, or how
much I would actually use it. Now, it is one of those things I can't live
without. Don't get me wrong, I am an old fashioned kind of girl and
enjoy the glories of getting my fingers in the dough and the process of
kneading it. But how many times did I actually do it? Not many.

In five minutes, I can throw the ingredients into this little beast, turn
it on and three hours later, a glorious loaf of homemade bread is
cooling on my cutting board! Here's a simple recipe for super rich and
moist buttermilk bread, I make quite often. It's good fresh and fabulous
the next morning toasted.

Willow's Buttermilk Bread (machine version)

1 5/8 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup honey
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
4 cups bread flour
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan.
Select Light Crust setting and press start.
Bake cycle: Standard.

Makes one large 2 lb. loaf

Easy peasy! Pair it with a nice bowl of homemade chicken soup
for a wonderful little supper. Yum-a-licious.

There is something quietly civilizing
about sharing a meal with other people.
The simple act of making someone
something to eat,
even a bowl of soup
or a loaf of bread,
has a many layered meaning.
It suggests an act of protection and caring,
of generosity and intimacy.
It is in itself a sign of respect.
Nigel Slater

Squaw Bread

I never thought that I would like a bread machine. I like the feel of the dough and enjoy the process of kneading and baking. But how many times do I actually knead and bake? Not many. Last year I gave in and purchased one. Now, I don't know how I existed without it. You just throw the ingredients into the machine and turn it on. That's all. There are hundreds of wonderful bread machine recipes out there. The only thing is, I have to be careful not to make bread too often, or we will gain hundreds of pounds! Pictured above is one of my favorites, Squaw Bread. My world traveler teases me every time I make it, reminding me of my Native American heritage. It is absolutely delicious!

Squaw Bread

Recipe for a 2 lb. loaf

7/8 C milk
1 C water
3 T oil
3 T honey
1 handful raisins
3 T brown sugar

(puree all of the above in blender and pour in bread machine)

add:

2 C flour
1 1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 C rye flour
4 T vital wheat gluten
2 1/2 t dry active yeast

Set machine on "whole wheat", medium crust.