Homemade Bread - It's Cheaper and Tastier

I’m a bread baker. I love baking our bread because it tastes better, I know what is in it, and it really is cheaper than store bought. Becoming a bread baker is not an overnight success; it does take time and practice. There have been many loaves of bread to come out of my oven that ended up becoming food for the birds. Even with those flops, I continue with learning how to bake bread. While I am NOT an expert on bread baking, because I am still learning, hopefully, I can encourage you to at least try to make one loaf of bread so you can say you’ve tried.

Making Homemade Bread- it's cheaper and tastier!

A lost art?

I was doing a little digging around the internet and found a couple of articles claiming bread baking is a lost art. I have to disagree. There are plenty of homemakers and non-homemakers who enjoy baking bread and you probably know one of these creators. If asked, they will more than likely be willing to teach you how to bake bread. I am not one who has mastered baking bread by hand because I do use my Bosch mixer.

Shameless, I know – I have to put a plug in for Bosch. I’ve only had my mixer since the February, but I am AMAZED at the difference in everything I pull/pour out of the mixing bowl – AMAZING!

Is homemade bread worth the effort?

Absolutely! For me, baking bread is relaxing and enjoyable. In fact, once you get your bread baking rhythm down, it doesn’t really take that long to bake a beautiful loaf of bread. If you’re strapped for time, don’t try and squeak by; wait until you can focus on the task. You and your bread will be happy if you do.

What about cost?

Over the years, the cost of homemade bread has risen. I used to bake a loaf for 65 cents, now it is anywhere from 85 cents to $1.28 a loaf, depending on the recipe I use and if I substitute oil in place of butter and water in place of milk.

Sometimes I find a really good deal on bread that I can’t pass up. When I find these deals, I buy up bread and freeze it. There’s nothing wrong with buying store bought bread if it’s just so happens to be cheaper than making your own.

What about equipment?

If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, you can make bread. If you have a bread machine, you can make bread - you do know, you don't have to bake it in the machine, right? You can do all the kneading in the machine and take it out and bake it in the oven - no one will know the difference. I did this for several years until I got my first stand mixer. If all else fails, you can always give your arms a good workout and do it by hand. Just remember kneading by hand will take a good 8-10 minutes to get the dough just right before you let it rise.

Are you a bread baker?  Considering trying to bake bread? These are links to some of the bread recipes I’ve made over the years and loved them and even tweaked them a little.  

Amish Bread  (a good basic recipe to start with), Grandma VanDoren’s White Bread , and Honey Wheat Bread – my favorite!