One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns! We all know the rhyme, but with inflation they cost several pennies now, but I can make them quite cheaply with the help of my Breadmaker.
Imagine the wonderful aroma of freshly
baked bread in your own home and the delicious taste which home-baked bread guarantees. The new Breadman Ultimate by
Russell Hobbs takes
home bread making to a new level, by introducing a wide range of features, designed to bake a large range of
bread products, and all with the minimum of fuss. Made by Russell
Hobbs, it has over 110 cycle combinations and will bake three loaf sizes, 500g, 750g and 1kg, with a choice of light, medium or dark crusts. For convenience, a 24hr delay bake timer, gives you the option of setting the finishing time up to 24hrs ahead and the machine also features a 1 hr keep warm function. For adding a bit of variety to your recipes, Breadman Ultimate features a handy patented
fruit, nut and herb dispenser. This feature allows the additional ingredients to be added at the precise moment, even if you are not at home. Simply add the ingredients into the dispenser and select the "extras" function and these will be added to your bread, during the baking process.
In addition, the machine also has a 10 minute fully random pause control, which allows the user to intervene during the baking cycle. With this feature, you can add a decorative crust, add crumble toppings, glaze the crust or create a rustic, mediterranean type bread. Breadman Ultimate has a number of pre-set programme controls, these include, white, wholewheat, french,
fruit and nut, cake, jam and pizza dough. A
rapid programme, is available on the first four programs and gives you the choice of reducing the program time by 1 hour. A bake only cycle with variable temperate control uses the machine as an
oven. Use this program to bake dough you've made earlier or ready prepared dough from the supermarket. The machine has 5
memory cells available for creating your own recipes. This will prove invaluable for experienced users of the machine, who wish to create their own unique recipe. In addition to the personal memory cells, you can also change any of the standard programs to suit yourself. I admit I haven't used the memory cells, as I'm happy with the available choices.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. Take a deep breath. Can you smell lovely fresh bread, hot and steaming, just asking to be sliced and spread with butter. Would you like cheese or freshly made strawberry jam? Or perhaps you would prefer delicious savoury bread, making you think of warm days in the Mediterranean. Dream over, or is it? In my home you really can wake to the smell of freshly baked bread, because I've got a bread maker.
This is my third bread maker, the other two just wore out with overwork! Well to be truthful, the last was still working but was leaving an oily deposit in the base of the bread around the paddle so when I saw this bread maker at a bargain price, whilst shopping in MacArthur Glen Designer centre, I snapped it up and sent my other to a retirement home at the tip.
Easy use and perfect results, what more can you ask for? Well, I actually like making bread so prefer making dough and then doing a bit of kneading, it removes frustrations, is relaxing and you get fantastic bread!
# The Instruction Booklet #
Someone deserves a prize at Russell Hobbs because they realise people don't like instructions books, they don't read them and can't understand them. On the first page it says "Now for the bad news - to get the best out of your machine you have to read the booklet. Just once! Just to get the hang of the machine. Then you can stick it in a drawer (till something goes wrong!)
Hands up! I admit I read a few bits and then stuck it in the cupboard! I pull it out to set the clock or find a different recipe, but mostly I use the recipes from the wipe proof cards which were also supplied. There are safety instructions, which are common sense really - like don't immerse in water, use oven gloves
to remove the bread a s the metal is hot, leave a space around it for ventilation, don't use under cupboards or curtains in case they burn, keep out of reach of children etc.Apart from all the instructions, recipes, and a small trouble shooting section, there is 2 pages devoted to exactly how long each stage takes, which I find is helpful if you want to keep am eye on the proceedings!
# Making Bread #
First choose the recipe, measure out the ingredients and put them in the correct order in the tin. Place the tin in the machine, close the lid, and select the programme and press start, when it's finished the beep lets you know. Easy.
A quick note here about the main ingredients. You can use packets of bread mix specially made for bread makers, but it is easy to weigh out your own ingredients.
Flour - there is special Bread flour which is called strong flour. Also available are farmhouse flours and Granary flours, I like to use mostly white but add some Granary for fibre and taste. Too much brown flour and the bread is dense and heavier in texture. If you have a gluten intolerance you can make bread using "Glutafin" mix.
Yeast - a long time ago I used to buy fresh yeast to make bread but now I use dried all the time. It comes in sachets which are about the right quantity for a large loaf, or in packets to be measured, and I prefer the sort called "Fast action yeast".
Butter or fat - this helps keep the bread fresh and improves the flavour. I often use oil instead as it is easier to measure and healthier. Do not use low fat spread, it is mainly water and doesn't improve the bread.
Yeast needs sugar to help it grow and rise, honey and syrup can be used instead, but do not use artificial sweeteners as these don't work!
Salt is needed to stop the yeast growing to much and over rising, so must be carefully measured as too much would prevent the yeast rising at all. It also improves the flavour. So you can see the basic ingredients are plain and simple, no nasty E additives!
I bought a large container with a handle and store my flours, a small tub of salt, sugar and
dried milk and the yeast altogether, so I just need to lift it from the cupboard, along with the oil, making it so much quicker!
#Adding the Ingredients #
The ingredients must be put into the tin in the correct order. If the yeast gets wet it might start working too early, and salt and sugar shouldn'
t touch it either. Any extras like fruit and nuts can be put into the dispenser on top and they are added automatically at the right time, which is an advantage over my old machine as I used to have to listen for the beep to tell me when to ad them. The liquid is put in first, after checking the paddle is securely inserted. It should be at room temperature, too hot or too cold may prevent the yeas working.
Fresh milk shouldn't be used with the timer as it may "go off" on a warm day. Next add the sugar and salt, measuring carefully using the spoon provided. Add any other liquid ingredients like oil, honey, syrup and then add the dry ingredients like flour, dried milk, spices and herbs. The yeast is placed on top of the flour, well away from the liquid. The tin is then
ready to place carefully into the machine, take care not to splash flour over the elements or it burns!
# Setting the breadmaker #
Once the tin is safely clicked in place, switch the machine on at the back and press "SELECT". You can choose which type of loaf you are baking, like White, Wholemeal, French,
Fruit and Nut, Cake, dough etc. Each press moves it on to a different choice, and also whether Rapid or normal time and which size of loaf you are making, 2lb, 1.5lb or 1lb. Lastly choose if you want light, medium or dark crust, if you are baking a loaf. If you have fruit to add, press the extras button. It's ready to press start and you can go and have a cup of
coffee! If you've made a mistake after pressing start, and realise quickly, you can hold the stop/reset button and re set it. I like to watch that all the flour is mixed in, occasionally I have to add extra water when using a new type of flour.
It is possible to set the breadmaker to finish cooking up to 24hours ahead, by working out the difference in times, this is one reason I have to use the instruction book!
# What to do when ready #
Once cooked press stop and open the lid, the bread will keep warm for an hour but if possible lift out as soon as possible as condensation can make the bread damp. Use an oven glove to pull the tin out and turn it upside down onto a cooling tray. A good shake and it usually falls out, sometimes with the paddle left in the tin or annoyingly in the loaf! And now the hardest part of making bread - Leave to cool if you can before slicing!
# What does it do? #
Obviously it makes White bread, this is the quickest and easiest to make. There is a programme for Wholewheat, these loaves are smaller and denser than white and it takes longer to rise. French bread takes longer as well, but doesn't keep well, as there is no butter in the recipe. Although we tend to eat it quickly, as it tastes good! One of my favourites is Malt loaf with juicy raisin and sultanas, this uses the "extras" button. The first time I made a fruit loaf, I forgot to press the extras buttons and thought my machine was broken, but it was my fault for not reading the instructions!
If you are in a hurry the RAPID option can be used for all these programmes, but the loaf may be a bit smaller, I actually prefer the white baked on the rapid.
Cakes can be made, but are often a little sticky on top compared to a cake baked in a conventional oven. Jam was something I didn't think I would make in my breadmaker, as I usually make larger quantities, but having found some raspberries in the freezer I decided to give it a go and was very impressed. The slightly crushed fruit and sugar and lemon juice was placed in the tin , set and switched on , and in no time the hot jam was ready to pour into warmed jars, It set beautifully and tasted even better! Although it won't keep as long as traditionally made jam. But that wasn't a problem as it was quickly eaten! The pan was left to soak and washed clean very easily. I was impressed!
Now to my favourite programme - Dough. I make a batch of dough in 1½hours, knock it back by kneading a little shape and leave to rise in a warm place, leave for ½hour to rise, bake for 15 minutes and yummy the rolls are ready. My husband makes pizza dough and makes the most delicious little pizzas from a recipe in a Bread book we have. # Advanced Baking Techniques #
I admit never having used this facility, mainly because I stuck the instruction book in the cupboard! But as I want to give a full review I decided to give it a whirl and see well I can cope with advanced techniques!
This allows you to stop the process and remove the dough before the final rise, and also to remove the paddle, the bread can be finished in different ways and then returned to finish cooking. For example roll out dough, spread with some olive oil, chopped garlic, basil and sun-dried tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese, roll up again and coil into tin. You have to work quickly as it only pauses for 10minutes, once the tin is replaced, press start and the loaf finishes rising and cooking. A clever idea for different loaves if people can be bothered to play and my family were impressed!
# Vital statistics #
37cm x 30cm x 24 cm. Quite a good size! When the lid is opened it needs another 20cm above the top of the machine, so won't fit under cupboards, although that is not recommended for safety. I was surprised when I got it home and had to do some rearranging in the kitchen.
The machine is rectangular in shape, with just over 2/3rds of the top forming the hinged lid, the remainder has the control panel with a digital clock so you can see how long is left and what stage the loaf is at. The lid has a little window so you peep at what is happening! Plus the fruit dispenser. There are airvents on the sides and back which must be given space around them to prevent overheating. Inside is the removable, non-stick tin with paddle, which can also be removed for cleaning. It clicks into place, and needs a good pull to remove. The machine is also supplied with a plastic measuring beaker and twin measuring spoon, with a teaspoon and tablespoon. The on/off switch is at the back.
# Cost #
It said recommended price of £99.99 but was on sale for £49, but MacArthur Glen does sell everything at reduced prices, (sometimes because it is end of range) - or so they advertise! That was over a year ago, I have seen a similar one in Argos in Stainless steel for £79.99.
# Cleaning #
I run some hot soapy water into the tin, but try to keep it out of water, it cleans easily with a soft dish cloth. The outside casing just needs a wipe over to keep it clean.
# Verdict? #
I love my breadmaker, we get to eat fresh bread or I often make batches of rolls and freeze, if I'm the only one eating breakfast, so I have fresh frozen bread as opposed to slightly stale! I can make the most delicious Naan bread, better than any bought in shops! And Hot Cross Buns, One a penny, two a penny, Hot Cross Buns!
PS For those who are interested it cost me about 60 pence plus time and electricity to make a dozen buns.
Photos will follow!
One a Penny, Two a Penny Hot Cross Buns. 
