What did I cook this weekend.....

[ChefRex]

Anybody have advice if I should get this or not, please hurry!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cuisinart-C...all_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item48604f6aa2

I had one similar years ago, worked well but have never been a fan of loaf pans, especially odd shaped ones but then again I have a Kitchen Aid to do the hard work.

 

[finsfan]

No idea on that particular model. But if you haven't used a bread maker before, they are great. You can make some very good bread in them, with very little effort. One of the nicest features is the ability to set them to start at a particular time so that the bread comes out hot at dinner time.

That is a very good price.

Thanks, it is refurbished by the manufacturer, but has a 90 day warranty. I may have to pull the trigger soon.

 

[Melana]

I'm not a fan of cleaning appliances when I can make awesome bread with one bowl. Just my opinion

 

[ChefRex]

I'm not a fan of cleaning appliances when I can make awesome bread with one bowl. Just my opinion

Clean up isn't as long as the bread doesn't overflow, the pan and the paddle, which reminds me of something I didn't like, having the paddle baked into the bottom of the loaf, the bottom slices end up with a whole on them.

 

[Melana]

Holes on the bottom are good for some things.... IMO bread isn't one of them.

 

[finsfan]

Once the bread has been kneaded, you can take the blade out before it rises. I dont think I will care enough to do that though.

 

[Homercidal]

Anybody have advice if I should get this or not, please hurry!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cuisinart-C...all_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item48604f6aa2

I use our bread machine fairly often (Well, it tends to get used in streaks) and I like it. There isn't much cleanup to it, since I just pour ingredients into it and turn it on. The clean-up is *maybe* wiping the non-stick pan with a paper towel every few loaves.

The bread is very different from the homemade ones I've made in the dutch oven. To be honest, a bread machine's bread is best eaten right away. For some reason the texture seems to degrade quickly in my opinion. Bread made in the dutch oven, Artisan style, seems to keep a better texture for longer.

I guess what I say is that the two loaves are not really comparable, but it's awesome to be able to come home at lunch, throw a few things in the machine, and press a button and then when you get home have hot fresh bread waiting. Same thing for mixing it up right after work and it's ready for dinner.

I've seen a TON of bread machines at yard sales over the past several years. Cuisinart is a high priced brand, and as far as I know should be well built.

 

[finsfan]

I use our bread machine fairly often (Well, it tends to get used in streaks) and I like it. There isn't much cleanup to it, since I just pour ingredients into it and turn it on. The clean-up is *maybe* wiping the non-stick pan with a paper towel every few loaves.

The bread is very different from the homemade ones I've made in the dutch oven. To be honest, a bread machine's bread is best eaten right away. For some reason the texture seems to degrade quickly in my opinion. Bread made in the dutch oven, Artisan style, seems to keep a better texture for longer.

I guess what I say is that the two loaves are not really comparable, but it's awesome to be able to come home at lunch, throw a few things in the machine, and press a button and then when you get home have hot fresh bread waiting. Same thing for mixing it up right after work and it's ready for dinner.

I've seen a TON of bread machines at yard sales over the past several years. Cuisinart is a high priced brand, and as far as I know should be well built.

Thanks for the great info! I did pull the trigger on this after another member said he had the same one and loved it. I should have it next week and we will see how it goes! I am very new to bread making, so this may be a gateway product to artisan breads. :cross:

 

[blizzard]

If you want to try making some artisan breads, I really enjoy the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312362919/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[passedpawn]

I'm not a fan of cleaning appliances when I can make awesome bread with one bowl. Just my opinion

There is almost NO cleanup with one of these.

Because the outside of the loaf isn't getting dried out by air, you can't really make a nice crispy crust with a breadmaker. Otherwise, the bread comes out excellent.

Here's a recipe I use for a very tasty rosemary bread. Comes out great every time.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/jos-rosemary-bread/

 

[Homercidal]

Thanks for the great info! I did pull the trigger on this after another member said he had the same one and loved it. I should have it next week and we will see how it goes! I am very new to bread making, so this may be a gateway product to artisan breads. :cross:

We bought one a long time ago when they were a fad. Just to have homemade bread.

But, there is really no knead to use it as a gateway. I'd check out some no-knead bread recipe online. In general they take some time to make, but almost all of the time spent is just letting it do it's thing. Actual work time is 5-10 minutes mixing and whatnot.

Most people recommend a heavy cast iron whatever for baking. I use my mom's cast iron dutch oven. This process makes a nice artisanal loaf with very little effort.

If you like that kind of bread, you might not want to go back to using the machine!

 

[BUCKNUTS]

Some ingredientd arrived today. Ancho, Guajillo, chili Chipotle Morita, Pasilla and Mulato dried chilis. Mole Rojo coming soon. I love spending 16 hours in the kitchen over 2 days roasting, toasting, browning, frying, grinding, pureeing, straining, reducing and simmering. A labor of love and worth every minute when I am sitting with my wife eating it and she is loving it for me that's a big part of why I cook. Plus I enjoy the eating it myself part as well. There are some talented cooks in this thread I'm sure you all cook for some of the same reasons.


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[passedpawn]

View attachment 179260There are some talented cooks in this thread I'm sure you all cook for some of the same reasons.

I whip up stuff almost every night for some combination of my kids/wife. I do love it. Once you slow down and really think about flavor, it's easy to take anything in your fridge or cabinet and turn it into a meal.

The key is to slow down and really think about flavor. I don't believe many people do that. This forum, though, is full of exceptions to that.

 

[BUCKNUTS]

I whip up stuff almost every night for some combination of my kids/wife. I do love it. Once you slow down and really think about flavor, it's easy to take anything in your fridge or cabinet and turn it into a meal.

The key is to slow down and really think about flavor. I don't believe many people do that. This forum, though, is full of exceptions to that.

I think some of that comes with experience. I cook a lot so I have grown to understand what flavors work together well it's one thing to have a great recipe its another to know why it works. I love to cook I am never more relaxed than when I am in my kitchen cooking for my family drinking a beer I made.


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[Melana]

I think some of that comes with experience. I cook a lot so I have grown to understand what flavors work together well it's one thing to have a great recipe its another to know why it works. I love to cook I am never more relaxed than when I am in my kitchen cooking for my family drinking a beer I made.


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Agreed. Cooking is my therapy.

 

[Homercidal]

Found some frozen ham in the freezer the other day, so I whipped up some Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup last night. Went looking for a recipe, but couldn't find what I really wanted to do, so I just threw stuff together. It's nice when you get to the point where you can just do it and not need a recipe.

It turned out a bit thicker and creamier than I wanted/expected, but my wife wouldn't let me thin it down.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Made up a batch of Crock Pot chili Monday evening, and kept it in the fridge to mellow, until I threw it on an all day slow cook yesterday morning. It is a pretty basic recipe but still always a winner. A touch spicy for some/most but even those people who cant take it. This is my base recipe and I change it up a little each time I make it.

2 pounds meat
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cayenne
2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup chicken broth or beer
7 ounces tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, crushed
salt and pepper
1 whole onion, diced
1 whole green pepper, diced

Throw everything in the Slow Cooker and store in the refrigerator overnight.
Crock Pot cook on low for 8 hours or more.

Initially I would use a 50/50 mix of beef/spicy italian sausage meat prebrowned. I also for my eating double the cayenne and chili powder, but with normal levels is still hot for many.
This time I used leftover smoked pork butt. The smoked pork just adds something special.

 

[Homercidal]

Ok so I email the wife a Happy Valentine's Day and she proceeds to inform me that some guy out on her plant floor bought her a 3 Musketeers bar and I'd better step up my game...

Uh, so all of those soups I make for her are now worth nothing compared to some old guy tossing a candy bar on the counter when he goes to the gas station to buy his morning cup of coffee??

WTF?

 

[Homercidal]

Oh yeah, Happy Valentine's Day to me, I guess.

I sure hope she didn't waste her time taking some of MY SOUP to work for lunch...

 

[Melana]

Ok so I email the wife a Happy Valentine's Day and she proceeds to inform me that some guy out on her plant floor bought her a 3 Musketeers bar and I'd better step up my game...

Uh, so all of those soups I make for her are now worth nothing compared to some old guy tossing a candy bar on the counter when he goes to the gas station to buy his morning cup of coffee??

WTF?

Tell her she's lucky to get the email? Some of us wives don't get that!

 

[finsfan]

Kick his ass!

 

[Homercidal]

I should take back the chocolate man I bought for her. I bought this guy made out of chocolate and put Dean Winchester's face on it. Or maybe give it to one of my daughters.

 

[Subsailor]

I think some of that comes with experience. I cook a lot so I have grown to understand what flavors work together well it's one thing to have a great recipe its another to know why it works. I love to cook I am never more relaxed than when I am in my kitchen cooking for my family drinking a beer I made.


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100% Agree! My Wife, bless her heart, in her previous life with her ex did almost everything out of a box or a can. Mind you, they lived here in Alaska but everything was instant or takeout. I have shown her what fresh ingredients can do and taste like and can actually be cheaper than all that factory made stuff.
Our first 5 years together, I did about 90% of the cooking. These last 8 years, she has started experimenting and tailoring her meals and has become one fine cook.

 

[headbanger]

I should take back the chocolate man I bought for her. I bought this guy made out of chocolate and put Dean Winchester's face on it. Or maybe give it to one of my daughters.

I'd just cut her off for a while.

 

[finsfan]

I'd just cut her off for a while.

But then he cuts himself off as well, that never good

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I bought my wife a big bouquet of flowers last Saturday for an early Valentines present. Reallly, though, it was a defensive move. I was expected to be traveling Tues->Fri this week, leaving her at home with three young kids. I figured she'd hate me by today no matter what I did, so I should use the early flowers surprise as a pre-emptive strike.

Of course, due to weather, I didn't travel. What a waste!

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I think some of that comes with experience. I cook a lot so I have grown to understand what flavors work together well it's one thing to have a great recipe its another to know why it works. I love to cook I am never more relaxed than when I am in my kitchen cooking for my family drinking a beer I made.

I'm looking forward to getting there. I feel like I can do that with beer, i.e. look through my piles of grain and hops, and pretty much come up with a recipe that will work. But I don't know enough about spices and flavors on the food side to be able to do that yet...

 

[Homercidal]

I'd just cut her off for a while.

What, you mean like disconnect the Internet? TV?

??

 

[DrunkleJon]

What, you mean like disconnect the Internet? TV?

??

Nope, no more homebrew. Duh!

 

[BUCKNUTS]

100% Agree! My Wife, bless her heart, in her previous life with her ex did almost everything out of a box or a can. Mind you, they lived here in Alaska but everything was instant or takeout. I have shown her what fresh ingredients can do and taste like and can actually be cheaper than all that factory made stuff.
Our first 5 years together, I did about 90% of the cooking. These last 8 years, she has started experimenting and tailoring her meals and has become one fine cook.

It's usually cheaper to eat fresh that's especially true when my garden is going strong and I can walk outside and pick every herb I want, tomatoes, Chilis, squash, zucchini etc.
My wife views cooking exactly the opposite of me, she hates it and it stresses her out. We've all heard that saying that you can taste the love in a dish well I agree with that and the counterpoint that you can tell when someone like my wife cooked something out of a feeling of obligation but wasn't happy
about it.