[cheshirecheese]

I use a breadmaker for making my husband's gluten-free loaves because the recipe is more of a batter which means you can't knead it, but I've never used it for the ordinary bread because it feels like cheating!  And once you get the hang of it, making your own dough is not only very easy, but very therapeutic (please don't wince!!!).  Seriously, when you're kneading it, you can work out some tension; and when you see the beautiful loaf you've produced and then cut into it and get that wonderful aroma, it makes your whole body smile (if you know what I mean!).  Keep going Tony - practice makes perfect!!  And like I said in an earlier post, to relieve the headbanging frustration of a failed dough, give yourself a treat and try the Irish Soda Bread recipe I posted! 
  Best of luck!

[cheshirecheese]

By the way, I seem to remember that if you join River Cottage (as in Hugh Fernely-Whatsisface), you can access a video on breadmaking techniques on the website, as well as Pam the Jam's 'how to' videos.  If you're a member of Lovefilm, you can also rent the River Cottage videos from there.

[Madame Cholet]

I found white bread ok in the machine but wholemeal better by hand.

[mumofstig]

machines are a godsend for people with arthritis, or other weakness in their hands, arms or shoulders

Without the machine i'd be back to buying plastic bread most of the time 

[crh75]

I love my bread machine.  I don't think I could find the time to make bread otherwise.  I set it in the morning and use the timer so it is ready when I get home.

I found white bread ok in the machine but wholemeal better by hand.

I actually think the opposite, wholemeal, brown and granary are excellent and white is OK.

[Aidy]

Just a teaser for the old breadmaker....

1. You can set your bread maker to make the bread while your asleep so when you wake up its ready and the there is no better way of waking up (well there might be one better ).

2. When I use mine to make some barmcakes (every night) I can fill the bucket with the ingredients, set it  and it will make the dough etc while I am free to....
 A. Drink beer
 B. Make a pan of soup ready for those fresh barmcakes.

Good investment I would say.

[sunshineband]

Just a teaser for the old breadmaker....

1. You can set your bread maker to make the bread while your asleep so when you wake up its ready and the there is no better way of waking up (well there might be one better ).

2. When I use mine to make some barmcakes (every night) I can fill the bucket with the ingredients, set it  and it will make the dough etc while I am free to....
 A. Drink beer
 B. Make a pan of soup ready for those fresh barmcakes.

Good investment I would say.

If I didn't have  abread maker already I would want one now, Aidy 


But I'm not sure about calling Tony an old breadmaker like that