Here is a very old recipe, found in a “housewife´s cookbook” that my mum passed on to me. It is called “Emergency Bread”, and according to the book, if you have unexpected guests and find yourself short of a loaf, you can make this in less than an hour.

Take: 1lb of Self Raising Flour, 1tsp salt, 250ml milk, 2 oz lard (optional)

• mix the flour and salt and rub in the lard if using.
• add the milk and mix to a stiff dough.
• shape and place in the oven in a loaf or cake tin.
• bake at 180º C / 350 º F for approximately an hour.

I really don´t know if it works, but the recipe does away with all the time consuming proving, kneading and waiting that you normally have with bread.

However, I have to confess I use an electric breadmaker. Cheap and very easy to use. Just place in the bread mix or ingredients according to the machines instructions, push the start button and 3 hours later, a perfect loaf emerges! The bread maching proves, warms and kneads the dough, then bakes the loaf, taking all the effort out of the process. Better yet, the timer programme means you can set it work in the night and wake up to that lovely smell of your fresh breakfast bread.

Here are some reasons to bake your own bread.

• with a machine, it couldn´t be easier
• you can control the ingredients, and it uses less additives
• the taste and texture are so much better than shop bought
• you can add your own flavours, cheese bread, sun dried tomato, herb, sunflower seeds... just ring the changes
• you never run out of bread!
• if you are short of time, use a bread mix, even quicker!
• you can make your kids healthy snacks. Mine love cherry and raisin loaf.
• it is so easy even my husband likes to make the bread.

As you can see, I´m a convert. Now, when will that loaf be ready???