I have a real heart for bread machines and sometmes get upset when people do not use them properly then blame the machine. All new machines come with directions - use them! They advise to put the ingredients in the pan in the orderer given. Every book I have seen adds the yeast last. Make a tiny well in the top of the flour and put it there. All ingredients should be room temp, except water and/or milk and it will tell you about the correct temp. After awhile you get a feel for it. I buy the big pkg. of yeast from Sam's and keep it in the freezer. It keeps forever! (that is the one exception I make as far as room temp, I just put it directly on the flour from the freezer and no problem)
Instruction books also have recipes, use them, at least at first. They were designed for that machine. If you can get ahold of a Fleischman's bread machine recipes they are very good. But not all recipes work in all machines. I tasted some wonderful bread at our State Fair a few years ago, but the reipces did not come out good in my machine. I don't was ingredients, if it does not work well the first time it is history.
I just cannot stress enough to follow the instructions for assembling your ingredients. It is crucial. When you find those recipes that work and are delicious hang onto them. Most of all just enjoy the wonderful bread that come out!
Gram
