So I finally got a bread machine and I'm so excited to be able to make my own bread. Here is a link to what I got:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...e-w-8-Settings

Anyone who has a bread machine......can you give me any advice or tips? I've never baked bread - even the old fashioned way - so this is a new experiment for me.

Have you had better success with a certain brand of flour? Yeast?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Yeasts and fkours do differ so looking at them and YOUR reaction to results important. Bread flours contain more gluetin, which does make a difference.

OMG! yummy fresh baked bread! I use my oven, and not a machine, so I cant help you there, but I am soooo jealous!

I don't have a sensitivity to gluten (that I know of) but I do plan to use organic ingredients. I have the car today so I'm going to go pickup some supplies this afternoon after my Neuro appointment.

Dej, I really didn't intend to buy a bread machine when I did but I turned on QVC and they had this one at a great price plus I could break it down into four (I think....maybe it's five) payments of about $15. That makes it easier on my budget. It just seemed like a great deal plus they delivered it right to my door. I love that! It sold out soon after I ordered it.

I think my first loaf will be whole wheat but I'm going to try cinnamon raisin, too.

Just be certain that you measure the ingredients exactly. It is important. A bread machine isn't forgiving like when you make your own bread from scratch.

We love bread but the trouble is we end up eating too much of it whether I make it using the bread machine or by hand. Yummmmmmmmy!!

I use my bread machines almost daily.

Most machines want you to put the wet ingredients in first. Just make sure the water is tepid, not cold. Keep that in mind when adding eggs from the refrigerator. When it blends with the yeast, warm water will make the yeast grow. Yeast and water are the key to how your bread rises.

I like the yeast that comes in a jar, not the packages. Packages seem to have crushed the yeast to death.

After about 3 minutes, look inside and if there is flour on the sides, use a rubber scraper. Your bread should be forming a ball. If the dough looks dry, add a teaspoon or so of water. If it is wet and sticky, add flour. The ball should be churning with the paddle.

If you use too much water, your bread will rise and stick to the top of the machine. It will taste fine, it is just a pain to clean the top. If you use too little water, your bread will be more dense.

Start with a basic bread - white to start. Not good for you but it will give you a good idea of how dough works.

The key is really the water, it temperature and how much it form a good looking dough ball in the first stage. That is a trial and error.

DH got me a bread cookbook Best Little Bread Book Ever. Ironically, I have made very few breads from it! But the white, wheat, cinnamon raisin and Challah are good.

Good luck!