We mentioned that we are working towards becoming more self reliant. As part of the process, we have been baking more bread at home. I find that it’s difficult for me to stop in the middle of the day and get all necessary ingredients so I can make a loaf of bread in my bread machine. I have come up with a system that works wonders for me, and with the system I am able to make several loaves a bread a week without it being a hassle. I prep a month’s worth of bread machine mixes at one time!
This saves me so much time, because I only have to pull all of the ingredients out once, and the process of adding the ingredients to the machine is super simple.
Please note: I understand that becoming self reliant should probably involve me making bread by hand, in the oven, without the use of the bread machine. We are taking baby steps here! I am currently relying on making bread from scratch, and not having to run to the store for it, so I still consider that becoming self reliant. We do plan to share with you a great method for making homemade bread in the oven too, but you have to start somewhere, right?
Once you know what recipes you plan to make for the month, you want to get all of your supplies together. I usually make 3-4 batches of the same items, I don’t make 16 different flavors of bread. That would just be crazy! Here is what I have planned to prep for this month:
- Potato Bread
- Honey Wheat Bread
- Pretzel Dough
- Pizza Dough
Once I have all the ingredients together, I start adding them to the containers. I only add the dry ingredients to the containers (minus the yeast). Later I will add the wet/fresh ingredients that are needed for the recipe. I chose to invest in reusable plastic containers made by Click Clack (I got a great deal on them through One Kings Lane), but you could just use Ziploc storage bags if you want.
When I am done, I have several containers filled with pre-made bread machine mixes.
I label the lids of the containers with what mix is inside.
I store all of the pre-made mixes in my pantry.
When I want to make bread for the day, I just pull out one of the containers so I can add it to my bread machine.
I just pour all the dry ingredients into the bread machine.
The recipe I chose today called for water, honey and butter. These are the wet/fresh type ingredients that I add the day I make the bread.
Next, all of the wet ingredients get added to the machine.
Lastly, I add the yeast, and I am done! This is a HUGE time saver, and it ensures that we end up with bread that we made on our own and didn’t have to buy at the store.
Finally, you get to enjoy!
I have had a couple of questions regarding the Bread Machine I own and whether or not I like it. I own the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker
I really did do a lot of research though, you can check out all the reviews on the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker
The containers I used are the Clickclack Airtight Storer 1-1/4-Quart Container, Red Lid
Here are a few of the recipes I used this month:
- Honey Whole Wheat Bread (I substituted butter for the vegetable oil)
- Crusty Potato Bread
- Pizza Crust (I am not really happy with this one, anybody have a pizza crust recipe you love? If so, please share!)
- Homemade Pretzels – (recipe post coming soon!)
This post is part of our year-long series on becoming self reliant, go HERE to read the other posts in the series thus far.
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This is a great life lesson. Becoming Self Reliant is a valiant goal to set. I have been working towards building my families “food storage” since attending a great “Preparedness Expo” in our area. We have always had some food storage and since couponing our stockpile has grown. What I really learned and it was an “a ha” or “DUH” moment and I am embarrassed that it took so long for me to figure out. Whole wheat stores longer and stays fresher longer than “FLOUR”. So. I recently purchased a wheat grinder and will be adding whole wheat to my storage. Whole wheat is also cheaper than flour. It does take a while to integrate “whole wheat” into our diets so I am anxious to start making honey wheat bread. There are so many other things you can use whole wheat for too! A friend of mine showed me how to make CRACKED WHEAT cereal! I loved this when my grandmother would get it from the Orowheat store!
Thanks for the inspiration!
kari palmer
happy valley oregon
Oh, your bread looks amazing!!! I just bought a used bread machine off craigslist just so I could try it. I LOVE IT!!! But it is older, and the bread doesn’t really look like a loaf of bread, but now that I know I will enjoy it I can save up to get a fancier/new one!
I love this idea and might have to try it. I make homemade bread for my family too. Over the past 6 months I have discovered that we like it a lot better when it is cooked in the oven. However, I still use my bread maker to prepare my dough. I am not trying to make life more complicated or make my carpal tunnel any worse, I am just trying to provide healthy and affordable food for my family.
Most of the recipes that I have tried can be cooked at about 400 degress for 20 to 22 minutes and it goes out perfectly!
I usually start bread when I start my slow cooker and program it to be done at the same time. Being single I have the time to make as needed. I also use the artisan bread recepie that bakes in a cast iron dutch oven. I believe I got the recepie from your site. It is so yummy.
What a fantastic idea! Would you be willing to share your bread recipies or are they already here and I didn’t notice them? I just recently got a bread maker and have been looking for some recipies! Thanks!
What is the size of the containers you are using?
Great idea. There are times I want to make bread, but don’t feel like getting everything together. This would be a good project for me to have my girls do with me.
Made me laugh at myself because when I go away I put my horses vitamins in a baggie to make it easier on whoever is feeding them. Never thought about using it in my kitchen.
LOVE my bread machine! btw, NO guilt in using it opposed to “hand making”, as long as you are “making bread” think of all the salt, sugar, preservatives that you are able to use less of or not at all for a MUCH healthier bread for your fam! I have a neuro-muscular disease that affects the amount of strength that I have in my hands/arms/shoulders without a lot of pain, so without a bread machine, I couldn’t make bread if I wanted to.
I love the Honey Oat recipe that I use, it’s super simple and just YUMmy! (Easy recipe and can be found by google-ing.)
Also have made pizza dough from time to time, too. LOVE fresh, healthy bread!
@Kara O. The are 1 1/4 Quart containers, they hold about 5 cups.
I’ve been making my own bread for almost 2 months now (also by bread machine) and it’s been working really well for me! I also prep a bunch of mixes ahead of time. This is saving my family quite a bit of money, since my husband and son are gluten-free and tiny loaves of bread cost $5 or more!
What a great idea Christy – I love it! Thanks!
Can you add a print button – to print out this post?
What recipe are you using for your bread? Is there a place you can get all the recipes? I am new to your site.. but love the idea of making a month ahead of time! I do a lot of freezer to table cooking!
Could you post the recipes?
What a great idea! I just found your site and I look forward to exploring it more.
@Laura I will see what I can do to get a “print” button installed to make printing easier. Thanks for the great suggestion!
Will you be sharing your bread recipes?
That would be great!! I love this idea.
Tasha
I found you from moneysavingmom.com (just so you know)
I received a Cuisinart CBK-100 Series for my birthday (off Amazon) and LOVE it. The instruction manual came with a pizza dough recipe. I have adapted a little bit, and our family absolutely loves it. We make pizza at least 2x a week.
1 cup water, room temp
3/4 tsp honey ( I omit because I dont have any)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbs extra virgin olive oil (I use canola oil, because its what I have)
2 2/3 cups bread flour
1/2 cup plus 1 tbs whole wheat flour ( I use bread flour)
1 3/4 tsp yeast (it says any, I use active dry)
Place in pan (in order listed) with fitted paddle. Use on dough cycle. Press start. Takes my machine about 30 minutes.
You can google the perfect cooking tempature. I usually make a strombolli, and freeze the left overs in single serve slices.
Been doing this a while, I buy a 25lb bag of flour from Sams, splitting with a friend if needed and use 5c. Rubbermaid large square containers. (It is hard to find 5c. containers and bags are a pain to fill in quantity.) I write the dry and wet ingredients on the lid or side. This makes it really convenient to make in a hurry and refill without looking up your recipe. Also permanent marker will “erase” off of most plastic with a regular pencil eraser if you change your mind on a flavor. Last time I did three chocolate bread recipes, but didn’t test it first….tried two so far and they won’t rise no matter what I add, so moral to the story is test with one loaf before you make more than one.
I love this idea! I have a question though for Christy or anyone that does this method. Can you store double, triple, etc the mix in one container and if so, how do you know how much to pour into the bread machine so that you still get the right proportions of ingredients when trying to make just one loaf at a time since that’s all the machine will hold? I hope this question makes sense because I’d love to start doing this in my home.
Have you tried the homemade pizza in 30 minutes recipe from moneysavingmom.com. I absolutely love it.
@Jennifer & Karen Thanks for the pizza crust suggestions, I will give those a try.
@Lindsey If I understand correctly, I don’t think there is anyway to do what you are asking, because all of the ingredients would get mixed in together and there is no way have them pre-measured out.
If you want to keep them all in a large container, maybe you can store each one in an individual ziploc bag and then put all the bags in the one container.
Good tips! Here’s the pizza dough recipe we use. I make pizza muffins with them and they are a big hit with my kids and hubby
http://www.savingyoudinero.com/2011/11/02/batch-cooking-pizza-muffins/
Christy, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. You did understand correctly and you did help me out. I have one last question to help solve this puzzle in my mind…what do you happen to put in the containers that look so full? I don’t imagine all that going into the bread machine at once so that’s probably what’s throwing me off.
@Lindsey The containers that are the fullest hold the ingredients for the Homemade Pretzels (recipe coming soon), they have lots of flour in them.
The containers are probably smaller than they appear, they are tall, but kind of narrow and they hold up to about 5 cups I think. My pretzel recipe calls for around 4 cups of flour, so the container fills up quick.
I saw the link at moneysavingmom. I have been doing this on and off for years and it does make things go much quicker! I use glass mason quart jars with plastic one-piece lids which I got at Walmart, although you can use just regular lids and bands. (I just think it looks nicer with the plastic lids.) If I have a recipe which calls for 4 c. of flour, I just “pack it down” in the jars. I also do this with msm’s bread machine cinnamon rolls and it works great!
This is the recipe I use in bread maker..we love it….you can substitute wheat flour for the white flour too. the original recipes is as below it states it is for 2 pizza crusts, but doesn’t say how big. I use the below recipe for one extra large 15 inch pizza.
Pizza Dough in bread machine
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water PLUS
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons oil
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
DIRECTIONS:
Place ingredients in pan in order listed or as directed per machine instructions. Select white dough cycle.
When machine is finished, remove and form into crusts. Top with desired toppings and bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until crust is light brown.
Mason jars would make great economical containers for mixes.
I will be giving this a try.
Tasha
I’ve had the Panasonic bread machine (same model as yours) for years. Well, actually 2 of them. I love it! I think it’s the best model & yes, I’ve tried 2 others but the Panasonic is the best.
Panasonic bread makers are the best! Like Melanie, I also have two. I purchased the second one because my first machine’s paddle wouldn’t turn anymore (it had started making terrible squeaking noises and eventually stopped spinning–after about 15 years). I had loved that machine so much and knew it had to be the belt and found a replacement belt on eBay and now it works like new. So if this happens to your machine, it’s a very simple fix! Hope this helps someone.
I love homemade bread and I have found we like it better baked in the oven. The way I got around the bread machine issue was to use the dough hook on my stand mixer. I have a large kitchen aid mixer that I love and use all the time anyway. It makes the dough very quickly so that all I do it pull it out and let it rise then put it in pans or do whatever I would have done otherwise!
Love this post. I do the same thing as I make about 2 loaves of bread a day to feed my family. I thought I’d share my bread recipe with you as it is yummy and healthy.
Honey Whole Wheat Bread
1 1/8c. warm water
2 T. olive oil
1/4 c. honey
1 t. salt
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. bread flour
4 t. vital wheat gluten (can by at Walmart even!)
2 t. yeast
Love this recipe because it is pretty healthy and dairy free!
Love your website. Anyway I found some great recipes on this site and have to share. http://tammysrecipes.com/ I have been making the amish white bread from this site for years. My family ask me for every holiday to make it. http://tammysrecipes.com/amish_white_bread
Very cool idea… I just got a bread machine for my birthday and have only used it to make dough for other things so far, but making bread mixes before hand sounds like such a time-saver! I’m stoked to start making my own bread!
I have a Welbilt Model ABM2H60 Bread Machine and have had it for the better of 10 years and its still going strong and I use it everyday. For a family of 5 a lot of bread is used for lunches and dinners. I absolutely love it! The pizza dough recipe I use on a weekly basis is as follows:
Water 1 1/3 c
Olive OIl 1/4 c
Salt 2 tsp
Bread Flour 4 c
Yeast 2 tsp
Put all ingredients in bread machine and set to dough setting. Wait for cycle and put some corn meal down on bottom of pan and shape your dough. Place toppings and cook in 425 degree oven for 14-16 min. Perfect every time! Enjoy!
Have you done the math for how much it costs per loaf? I ask because I have 5 small children and I go through a loaf a day. Because I have small children, I don’t really think I have time to bake my own bread, but DUH! mixing the dry ingredients a month at a time makes perfect sense. I want to go ahead and get a good bread-maker if the bread is actually cheaper. I never pay more than $1.33/loaf for 16 oz loaves of bread. If it only saves me a few cents, I’ll keep my time and buy the bread. If it saves me 50 cents/loaf – that’s ~$3/week – that’s $150/year. I would do a lot to save $150/year!!!
@Clara This is a very good question. I will do the math and let you know how much it comes out to be per loaf. I too have 5 kids (but most of mine are teenagers now), so we go through a lot of bread too.
I’ll let you know what I come up with once I get it all figured out.
looking forward to it! i think we will wind up making our own bread… when the kids are old enough go help.
I have the Zojirushi Bread maker and I love it. I like how the bread come out looking like loaves. My mom has the panosonic one and the loaves are tall. This is just a preference for me. Great ideas for Bread mixes. It took my like 15 minutes to gather ingredients and assemble my rolls and I knew there had to be a better faster way. I am glad I came across your site
Here is my pizza crust recipe! We LOVE it: http://sherigraham.com/pizza
Do you have a gluten free bread recipe? Just found out husband has celiac disease and we have to go all gluten free. Any help from anyone with gluten free recipes would be greatly appreciated, as this is all new to me. THANKS
It is cheaper to run the bread machine than the oven. Just because something is modern doesn’t mean it can not be a self-sufiency tool when you weigh everything involved.
I’m at 3600 ft and the honey whole wheat just kept falling horribly. For anyone having this problem too this is what I change and it’s perfect now.
Decreased water to 1 cup plus 1 tbsp.
Decreased yeast to 1 tsp.
Increased salt to 1/2-3/4 tsp.
Added 1 tsp wheat gluten.
Worked like a charm!
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