The miracle of simply taking flour, yeast, salt and water and mixing  it together with the out come being a beautiful loaf of bread, still mystifies me. (Chemistry was not my long suit in school!) 

I know many people think that making bread is way to time consuming in this day and age. Well, somebody has to do it! Why not you?

Some breads take more time than others. The simple loaf I made this morning took about 45 seconds to process in the food processor and while I was doing other things, the bread rose twice. Once in the oiled bowl and then again in the loaf pan before baking. Total rising time took about 1 1/2 hours, then the baking took about 45 minutes.  All of this was done before noon, so we have fresh bread for tonight and bread for breakfast toast tomorrow.

One reason that people don’t make homemade bread today is that they don’t want to do all that kneading. That’s why a food processor is so important. It does make short work of bread making. But, you must have a quality machine that can handle kneading dough.

Once the dough has been kneaded, all you have to do is put it in an oiled bowl for the first rise. Cover it with a cloth and let it rise for about an hour. Then punch it down, put it in an oiled loaf pan and let it rise again. Have your oven preheated so when it has risen the second time, it can go into the oven. Bake at 375 degrees.

There are breads that can be shaped and baked on a greased baking sheet.

There are many quick breads that you can easily make with baking powder instead of yeast, like scones or corn bread and they can be baked right after mixing.

The fun of making corn bread is using different corn stick pans or muffin pans. Of course,corn bread can be baked in a pie pan and sliced like pie slices. There’s actually a good corn bread recipe on the back of the corn meal container.

Corn bread can be spiced up with cheeses, like jalapeno or cheddar, or sundried tomatoes. Plain and simple or dressed up, you are in for a treat.

Wonderful breads are such a great addition to the dinner table. If you time the baking to coincide with your dinnertime, you family will enjoy hot breads from the oven. It’s really easy once you begin.

Break some bread with your family tonight!

I know everyone is busy, but for those of you that have a food processor and you aren’t using it to it’s full potential, listen up!

You can make bread dough in your food processor in just 45 seconds!                                                 

Cuisinart 14 cup Food Processor

45seconds–no, I’m not kidding.

That’s how close you are to fresh bread for dinner tonight.

It’s simple really, just gather your ingredients together, process and let it rise. Yeast breads need to rise twice, so while you are doing something else, the bread can be rising.

 Think Sunday dinner.

I love a white bread that slices perfectly and toasts up beautifully.

The following is my Favorite White Bread recipe. It is easy and fast to make. I hope you will try it.

• 3 cups white flour, unbleached (preferably King Arthur)
• 1tblsp. sugar
• 1 packet Rapid Rise Yeast
• 1tsp. salt
• 2tblsp. unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 very warm water

Put all dry ingredients and unsalted butter in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off to mix. Then, with the machine running, pour the water thru the feed tube. Let it run until you see the dough making a ball and pulling away from the sides of the  food processor bowl. That takes about 45 seconds. Count it out if you need to.

 The food processor will do all your kneading for you, so when the dough comes out you won’t have to any kneading.

Dust your hands with flour as you handle the dough.

Have a bowl oiled to put the dough in for the first rising. That may take about 45-60 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

When it has risen to double it’s size, punch it down and remove it from the bowl. This dough can be shaped by hand and placed in an oiled loaf pan to rise a second time. The second rising should take 45-60 minutes. Have your oven preheated at 375 degrees.

When the bread rises to the top of the pan, it is ready to bake. If you let it rise to far, you will have to punch it down and start again, so don’t let it over rise. When it is ready to bake, put it in the oven and let it bake for about 45 minutes, until it’s golden brown.

It’s done when it sounds hollow when you tap it with your finger.

Using a pastry brush, brush about 2 tblsp. unsalted melted butter over the top and then remove from the loaf pan. Let it cool on a rack. ( Unless you are tempted to slice it and have a hot slice of bread with melted butter, right out of the oven. This is wonderful, I’ve done it many times. Nothing like hot, fresh bread!)

This recipe can be changed by adding some whole wheat flour, wheat berries, cracked wheat and different seeds like pumpkin, fennel or sunflower, making it a grain bread.

Once you feel comfortable making this simple bread in your food processor, you can move on to other types of breads. 

Baguettes and peasant breads are easy too, as are different types of rolls.  Once you start playing with flour and dough, you will have a “feel” for the dough–there will be no end to what you can do.  

There are many cookbooks available with bread recipes. Any recipe can be adapted to a food processor.

The only thing you need to know is that whatever brand food processor you have, it must have a strong enough motor to make bread dough. My food processor of choice is Cuisinart. That’s because they have the power to make heavy dough without over heating.

You can read reviews on Cuisinart on this site. If Cuisinart is not in your budget, you need to read up on other brands to see what experiences other people have had with other brands. I have been using my Cuisinarts, ( I have 3) for over 30 years. All 3 work just like they did when I first bought them. Most small kitchen appliances do not last that long!

Once you realise all the different foods that can be prepared in your food processor, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.

I hope that you will make this simple bread recipe–you will enjoy the taste of bread without chemicals.

By the way, this bread will keep wrapped tightly in your refrigerator for at least 2 weeks. But, it probably won’t last that long in your home.

Enjoy!!

Hamilton Beach Deluxe Food Chopper

This is a cute food chopper.

It is perfect for you if you are looking for an appliance that you can chop small amounts of vegetables in a short amount of time.

This sure beats chopping with a knife on a cutting board.

I’m sure more people would make home made soup if there wasn’t so much hand chopping involved.

So, not only can you speed up the chopping process of vegetables, but if you have a hectic schedule, this food chopper will save you some time. And who doesn’t need more time today and less clean up in the kitchen? 

Life is too short to chop onions!

This is not a food processor that will make bread dough or cookie dough, but it is also not priced like one of those.

Check out the reviews HERE. 

This product may be exactly what you are searching for.

Bon Appetit! & enjoy.

The name of Kitchen Aid has always represented quality.                                       

Kitchen Aid Food Processor

So, it’s no surprise that they make a fine food processor.

Priced under $300.00–you get alot for the money and you can easily buy more slicing discs to expand your cooking abilities.

And check out this beautiful color–Candy Apple Red!

What a knockout sitting on your kitchen counter–you certainly want to keep it out in full view for all to see!

 A true bright spot in your kitchen and it’s less expensive than a kitchen remodel.

Kitchen Aid food processors are used by many TV chefs on their cooking programs, as are Cuisinart.

Read some reviews by actual customers of this Kitchen Aid Architect Series 12 cup Food Processor Here.

After reading these reviews and others you should be able to make a comfortable decision on your purchase of a food processor to meet your needs.

If red is not your color, there are many other models of Kitchen Aid Food Processors to be had. Go here and check them out! 

Cuisinart Food Processor with Slicing Discs

The Cuisinart Food Processor is my favorite small kitchen appliance and here’s why. 

The speed of a food processor can make you a gourmet in a matter of seconds!

Unlike many other brands, Cuisinart comes with several slicing discs.

That’s really nice so, you don’t have to go out and buy anything else. 

My Cuisinart Experience

Many years ago, I purchased my first Cuisinart food processor. It still performs just like new today. Since that first purchase, I went on to buy two more of the largest Cuisinarts, the DLC series, each are 20 cups, as we owned a B&B and prepared food for many houseguests daily.

The featured picture is the model that I own. Actually, I own two of this model. It is one of the most expensive, but definitely worth the price. But, Cuisinart has a model and price range for everyone.

  And all three of my Cuisinarts are still in fine operating condition, tho I no longer prepare  large amounts of food.

In my opinion, Cuisinart is the finest food processor. I can say this as I have had a 30 year love affair with this machine. I have been able to prepare foods that I never would have ever imagined that I could do, simply because of the help from the Cuisinart. It has made me an expert baker in pies and breads.

 There are many cheaper versions on the market, but you do get what you pay for. 

 Cuisinart has the motor strength to let you do heavy or sticky dough without bogging down or “walking” all over your kitchen counter.

After you have read about the rest, then go buy the best!

In today’s economy, you want to spend your money carefully. I believe that Cuisinart will give you many years of great service. It’s like having  a kitchen employee, but you don’t have to pay them!

Cuisinart is Safe and Easy to Use

The company that now owns Cuisinart has added many different models, in different price ranges and colors. In looking at some of the reviews of the cheaper models, some people seemed to have a few problems.

 It’s always good to read reviews and keep an open mind. Read the reviews of other people who have purchased this 20 cup Cuisinart food processor.

I do not understand people complaining about having to line up the top and getting the bowl on straight or the machine won’t operate–they apparently do not appreciate the safety mechanisms of the Cuisinart.

If they were not constructed in such a way, someone would probably suffer personal injury, as the machine is very powerful and the blades are very sharp. Someone would probably try to put their hand into the feed tube for whatever reasons.

 Can’t be done with the machine running. And that is a good thing!

I have used Customer Service a couple of times several years ago, and found them always courteous and helpful. That’s all I can say about that.

 I just recently purchased a new steel knife blade for my Cuisinart DLC, it’s the 20 cup, I bought it through Amazon and got it at a wonderful price.

They Are Still Going Strong!!   

 My Cuisinarts were all used for nearly 20 years in our B&B, which meant that even tho they were not commercial appliances, I used them in that capacity and they performed like true work horses!

They were handled by many inexperienced employees and run thru the commercial dishwasher. Cheaper quality brands would have been in the trash years ago.

 I still use my Cuisinart  daily, as I bake 4 or 5 loaves of bread a week, make pesto, chop onions, nuts and slice vegetables.

 I am no longer in the B&B, but my Cuisinart is always on the counter ready to help with whatever my menu is.

 Some of them are very expensive if you purchase them from upscale kitchen stores, but you can find good prices here.

I have always liked the fact that the Cuisinart does not waste food by mangling it when you are slicing. The slicing discs are so sharp and precise that the slicing cuts are cut beautifully.

Some of the lesser quality brands waste food, as they do not cut precisely when using their slicing discs.  You can make beautiful appetizer trays with lovely cut vegetables. Or AuGratin potatoes are cut perfectly. Think onion rings! Slicing onions in a Cuisinart elininates tears!

As I said, there is no end to the many recipes you can enjoy cooking.

 The Cuisinart will help to speed you along and get you out of the kitchen with less clean up.

There are several models and price ranges to choose from.

Read the reviews and choose the model that suits your needs. Keeping in mind that your interest and cooking skills may grow and you want a food processor that can go the distance. The last thing you want is to buy one that will be obsolete in a couple of years.

Buy a Cuisinart and Eat, Love and Cook!!