West Bend L5811A, 41400 in measuring spoons and cups must be level, not rounded or heaping

•Spoon the dry ingredients into the appropriate measuring cups or spoons, and then level off with table knife. All ingredients measured

in measuring spoons and cups must be level, not rounded or heaping.

•Never scoop measuring cups into dry ingredients. This will compress the ingredients into the cup and cause the dough to be dry which will result in a short loaf of bread.

BREAD FLOUR should be used in your bread maker. It contains more gluten- forming proteins than all-purpose flour and will provide well-formed loaves with good structure. Several different brands of bread flour are available. Do not use self- rising or cake flour in your bread maker.

WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR can be used in your bread maker using the “WHOLEWHEAT” bread setting. Whole wheat flour contains the entire wheat kernel, including the bran and germ. Therefore, breads made with 100 percent or a high percentage of whole wheat flour will be lower in height and heavier in texture than bread made with bread flour. The “WHOLEWHEAT” setting on your bread maker is programmed to better develop the structure of wheat breads for optimum results.

RYE FLOUR can be used in combination with bread flour in the preparation of rye or pumpernickel bread. However, it cannot be used alone as it does not contain enough protein to develop adequate gluten for structure.

SUGAR and OTHER SWEETENERS provide food for the yeast, add height and flavor to the bread and give the crust a golden color. Types of sweeteners that can be used include sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup and fruits, dried or fresh. Do not use artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugars and other natural sweeteners; the yeast will not react properly and poor results will be attained. When measuring sticky sweeteners, such as honey, coat the measuring spoon with vegetable oil before measuring the sweetener. This will allow the sweetener to slide off the spoon without sticking.

MILK enhances flavor and increases the nutritional value of bread. Any type of milk; dry, whole, 2%, 1%, skim, buttermilk or canned evaporated milk can be used in making bread. Refrigerated milk may be warmed to 80-90°F (27-32°C) however do not overheat (above 100°F, 38°C) as this could affect the yeast activity. Do not use regular milk when using the “Delay Start” function. Use dry milk and water as a substitute.

WATER used in combination with dry milk can be substituted for regular milk and must be used when using the “Delay Start” function as regular milk can spoil when left at room temperature for several hours. Use lukewarm water, about 80-90°F (27- 32°C). Do not use water above 100°F (38°C) as this could affect the yeast.

BUTTER, MARGARINE, SHORTENING and OILS serve several purposes in bread making as they tenderize the bread, add flavor and richness. Butter and margarine are interchangeable in recipes. Butter and margarine can be used right from the refrigerator. Cut cold butter or margarine into smaller pieces for faster blending during the knead cycle. Low-fat or fat-free bread can be made by substituting equal amounts of unsweetened applesauce or plain yogurt for the amount of fat recommended in the recipe. Using less fat will affect the height, tenderness and texture of the bread, which is normal.

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