The Fumbling Foodie

My First Week with the Zojirushi

 The Zojirushi bread machine arrived Wednesday afternoon.  Within 15 minutes of unpacking it, I put it to work.

I've made a total of three loaves so far. The first was the white bread formula in the Zojirushi manual.  It came out fine but it was nothing remarkable.

Next, I hauled out Beth Hensperger's The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook. The resulting - the remains of which you can see in the right in the photo - loaf was wonderful.  The texture and flavor were just what I expect homemade bread to be.

TIme to experiment.  I wanted to make something other than plain old white bread.  But I wanted to make is NOW so I needed to find a formula using only what I had on hand.  The Zojirushi manual has a formula for 'Dutch Apple Cake'. What if I add a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder? I did.  The result - on the left in the accompanying lousy photo - was described by my Sweet Lady Wife as 'sinfully good'.

Gonna try making pumpernickel next...

The Baker in Me is Stirring

Two winters.  Thats how long it's been since I made bread.    

It's hot here in Arizona in the summer and so I've customarily limited my breadmaking to winter. I woke up the other morning to the scent of Fall in the air.  It's coming.  The breadmaker in my stirred.  This year I am NOT going to let the winter pass without making bread.

I bought a Zojirushi.

The decision to buy a bread machine was a tough one.  I love making bread by hand - working the dough in my hands.  Dough has a certain feel when it's right and I really enjoy that artisan aspect.

On the other hand, making bread is very time-consuming. The notion that I can just pour in the ingredients, flip a switch and have bread a few hours later is pretty seductive for this guy with a very hectic life.

Some things I'll still need to bake conventionally.  Baguettes - (The sound of the fresh baguette crackling as you take it out of the oven).  Stickybuns - I have a recipe that gives Cinnabon a run for its money.

At this point I'm anxiously awaiting the Zojirushi's arrival.