Perfect Potato Bread

Like most of us when asked, "What couldn't you live without?" a lengthy list appears in my mind.  I know while you're sitting here reading this things like your family and friends, pictures, clothing, or that beloved hand-me down probably pop into your mind.  I'm not here to take about the sentimental things but about a kitchen appliance.  YES- a kitchen appliance!

My love for my bread machine goes all the way back to when I was a little girl.  My parents loved using their bread machine.  The wonderful aromas of yeasty sweet breads and daily grains would fill the house and automatically make my stomach growl in hunger like I've never ate before!  I'm not sure if it was about making the bread for them as much as it was about feeding an ever consuming family of five, but I'm grateful for the memories and of course having two willing to at least give it a try parents.  I bought my first bread machine from the Salvation Army Store in Richmond, Missouri for $5 when I lived alone while going to nursing school.  I just moved out of my parent house on my own and was on a Raman noodle kind of budget.  Making bread in that little $5 machine was my highlight of mounds of textbooks and numerous tests.  Best of all it reminded me of home and because of that is why I couldn't live without my bread maker.

One of my favorite bread machine recipes is what I like to call Perfect Potato Bread.  It's an original recipe that like it's name says, it's perfect for just about anything.

Perfect Potato Bread (2 pound loaf)
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup buttermilk (I use powdered buttermilk that I make)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons honey
3 cups bread flour
3/4 cup instant potato flakes
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vital wheat gluten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

According my my bread machine manufacture, the way the ingredients are listed is the proper order to add to my machine.  Check with your bread machine manual on the proper order of ingredients to add to your machine.

Set your bread machine on a regular white bread cycle.  I set my crust for light and of course make sure my machine is set for a 2 pound loaf.  It takes about three hours from start until it's ready to come out and cool.

To best cool your bread, remove from pan and place bread on it's side on a cooling rack.  This prevents the bread from squishing down and messing up your loaf.

I really hope you enjoy it!  It's one of our favorites!

-Mallory Mudd Pomerville