Appearing This Week in the Kitchen

Some time ago I wrote a blog post that mentioned my trusty bread machine.  We got it probably twenty-five years ago after spending a skiing weekend with some friends who had one and enjoying several loaves of bread with them.  It was an Hitachi and it worked wonderfully for many, many years.  Then I kind of got out of the habit of using it, and when I hauled it back out recently, it seemed it had, well, run its course.  

While I really like to make bread with my Kitchenaid, it takes some care over the next four or so hours to get it into usable form, and sometimes I'd just like a loaf of homemade bread that makes itself.  I realized I was thinking, "Yes, like a bread machine does!"  So I investigated the possibilities, realizing machines have changed over the years.  Christmas was approaching and it would make a good item for my up-to-that-point nonexistent list.  

BUT!  A major problem arose.  Where to put the one if I got it?  The one I decided upon was larger than my old one, and much heavier.  I'm to the point where I don't relish hauling a twenty-five pound appliance out of a cupboard and heaving it up on the counter.  And I don't have a lot of counter space to just leave it out.   I thought I was going to have to squash the idea and told Dan as much, but as I wandered back into the kitchen, an idea came to me.  With a little rearranging, it looked as if it would work and I told Dan it was back on my list.  

(Here is where I have to explain that I have what is probably one of the most bizarrely laid out kitchens in existence.  We have an angle in our house and the kitchen has walls meeting at strange angles; it's right in the V.  We have three separate counter areas and they are not connected.  It's a pain, but I've lived with it for more than nineteen years and survived.)

So, of course I got to unwrap a new bread machine on Christmas morning.  And I LOVE it!!  My old machine made a tall loaf, nothing like a standard looking loaf, and the slices were large squares.  This one makes a normal loaf.  I've only made two loaves so far, just plain white, but they are delicious.  And one of them is totally salt free!!!  There is a special program for it and an accompanying recipe, so I decided to try and it's a winner.  Color me one happy bread maker!!

Zojirushi Virtuoso in its new home

And here's a slice of my salt-free bread before being slathered with peanut butter and peach jam at lunch today.

It was yummy!!  ♥