Random update
Feb. 9th, 2014 11:31 pmIrish Soda bread worked great - I had just opened the jar of yeast.
Sour Cream bread - tasted good, but the middle/top never rose properly - used yeast right out of the jar from the fridge
Banana Oat bread - never rose properly, middle wasn't done (that one, I think I'll have to pick a longer baking time, probably) - used yeast right out of the jar from the fridge
Cinnamon bread - WIN. Technically it's cinnamon raisin bread, but raisins are disgusting, so I don't even buy them, much less put them in something that's going to go in my mouth. I thought about cranberries, and if I do it again, I might add them, but I didn't want to waste them if the bread didn't work again. It did make a very small loaf. Anyway, at four this morning it was delicious hot with melting butter. I think it needs more cinnamon. Landlord says the cinnamon stays with you. Eh. Still think it needs more.
The only thing I did different for the cinnamon bread was I measured out the two teaspoons of dry yeast onto a paper towel and waited a while to put everything into the machine.
These were all made from recipes out of The Bread Machine Baker by Harbison. I wish that was available digitally, because I would totally buy it (well, put it on my wishlist) for my own kitchen, assuming someday I get my own kitchen again. :sigh: Also, I will need a bread machine. Definitely. The only thing I don't really like is digging that little wing thing out of the bottom of the loaf. That's kind of a pain in the ass. And tears up the bread.
The bread can be made with little notice, so when landlord's going to need bread for whatever he's going to eat that week, I can make it myself. Saves money and is healthier. Also satisfies this weird thing I have about baking lately.