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[Gloria Morris <gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com>]

Gloria A. Morris
Attorney at Law
25685 North County Road 2570 East
Manito, Illinois 61546
309-202-6987
gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com


On 2/23/2010 7:49 PM, Gene GeRue wrote:
> I have never used a bread machine or any other machine to make my bread and 
> pizza skins.

Me either. I bake bread very often, generally a few times per week. And, 
I make my own pizza dough. Kneading by hand is not difficult. I suppose 
if I was severely disabled that I would want a bread machine. But absent 
a disability which robbed me of the use of my arms and hands, I find 
that a few minutes of kneading bread is a pleasant task, and I cannot 
see the point of a bread machine.

> But I do now use the refrigerator, which would be my last machine to give up, 
> I think.
>    
I do very much love having a refrigerator. And when the grid fails from 
time to time, it is the fridge which I miss, particularly in warm 
weather! Were I to ultimately decide to set up a small, more affordable 
alternative energy system, it would be for a very few things: the 
fridge, a well pump, the satellite Internet dish, and two laptops. I 
could do without the rest.

My bread recipe is very simple. I actually use it for several different 
types of bread, just varying the baking method and the way I shape the 
bread. I take 1 Tbsp yeast, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1-1/4 cup warm milk, about 
2-1/2 to 3 cups unbleached flour (or whole wheat, or sometimes a blend 
of the two). I proof the yeast with sugar and warm milk, then add in 
flour, stirring until it makes a ball in the bowl. This is kneaded with 
plenty of flour until smooth. Then it is allowed to rise, punched down, 
and kneaded again. Then it becomes a deep dish pizza crust. Or, it 
becomes dinner rolls. Or, it becomes a cottage loaf. Or, it becomes a 
crusty continental loaf by placing it in a cold oven with a pan of water 
and setting the oven (mine is gas, not wood fired, so this method works 
for me) to 450 F.

Making bread is a pleasant task, and one that too many people assign to 
others, or to a machine that makes a peculiar loaf. I would not 
willingly give up the pleasure of making my own bread, absent a horrific 
disability. It is such a joy to knead it, to feel the living dough 
become elastic in your hands. And I love the smell of the yeast, of the 
dough, and then of the baking. I love the LOOK of a homemade loaf. And 
the taste! Few things can compare to eating it fresh out of the oven 
with a bit of butter and honey, or maybe some homemade jam. Making bread 
is a feast for the senses!

Gloria