Ingredients to use
Flour
Use fresh, good quality flour. Do not use self- raising flour.
White Flour
Most large New Zealand milling companies produce two lines of white flour for the domestic market. One is finely milled 'weak' flour which is ideal for sponges, biscuits, shortbread and short pastry. This type of flour is labelled as standard or plain flour. The second is a strong flour which has been designed
for general household baking, including fruit cakes, loaves, pizzas and bread. These 'strong' bread making flours are labelled by the two main milling companies as 'High Grade' and bread making is listed as a possible use. Some small independent mills also market 'strong' flour, labelled as suitable for bread making. We recommend the use of High Grade or bread flour for use in Sunbeam breadmakers. White Flour should be stored in its bag on a cool, dry airy shelf. If your kitchen is rather steamy and warm, keep your flour in an airtight container.
Wholemeal
Wholemeal should always be bought in quantities which can be used up within 8 weeks. Make sure you buy from a shop with a high turnover. Fresh wholemeal has a pleasant, almost sweet smell. Wholemeal which has been kept for too long or which has not been stored carefully has a sour or rancid smell. Store your wholemeal in a refrigerator (remember to allow measured wholemeal to return to room temperature before using to make bread). Wholemeal produced from 'stone ground' organically grown wheat may vary in bread making quality.
Gluten Flour
Gluten Flour is made from white flour and is used to increase the size of loaves made from 100% wholemeal flour. Its use is optional.
Yeast
The recipes in this booklet have been designed to use Edmonds Surebake dried yeast (red cap on bottle). This yeast mixture contains 'improvers' which ensure excellent results. Elfin Instant Dried Yeast may also be used instead. It is recommended that you add 50mg of vitamin C as an 'improver'. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of Elfin yeast for 750g and 1kg loaves. Cut a 100mg tablet of vitamin C (not flavoured) in half. Crush in a dessertspoon with the back
of a teaspoon. Dissolve in the measured warm water before adding to the bread pan after the dry ingredients. Use this type of yeast with Elfin bread premixes (as per the instructions on the premix packaging).
Sugars
White or brown sugar has been specified in the recipes in this booklet. Substitute honey, golden syrup, or treacle in the same amounts if desired. Do not use molasses as the New Zealand types may be too strong in flavour. Stiff honey, golden syrup or treacle should be warmed until just runny.
Fats
Fats are used to enhance flavour and retain moisture. Oil is specified in the recipes. Choose a mild flavoured oil. You may substitute the same amount of softened butter, margarine or lecithin granules.
Salt
Iodised New Zealand salt is used in all recipes.
Salt controls the actions of the yeast so do not omit.
Water
Use warm water or comfortably warm water
Jam
Instead of Jam Setta, use Jam Setting Mix, which is available at most supermarkets.
1