My grandmother just gave me her hardly-used bread machine and I am having a BLAST with it... but I can tell that the piddly handful of recipes that came with the machine aren't going to last me long haha. SO.... I am looking for some cookbooks! I already ordered a Betty Crocker book... but thought maybe you all could recommend some others to me. Or maybe just share some recipes. Thanks!

Crystal,

See if you can put your hands on a copy of The Complete Guide to Bread Machine Baking.  It's a Better Homes and Garden book with beautiful pictures and the recipes are outstanding.  Looks like there are 2 people wishing for it right now, but before I finally bought my copy, I found it at the public library.  Recipes are written for 1 1/2 and 2 pound loaves.  My favorites are the Garden Patch and Smoked Cheddar Loaf.  Recipes below.   Amounts out of paratheses are for the 1 1/2 pound loaf.  Use amounts inside parantheses for 2 pound loaf.

Garden Patch Bread

1/2 (2/3) cup water

1/2 (2/3) cup coarsely shredded carrots

1/3 (1/2) cup tomato juice       (note~spicy V8 works even better)

2 (3) TBS coarsely chopped green pepper

2 (3) TBS sliced green onion

1 TBS (4 tsps) margarine, butter, or cooking oil

3 (4) cups bread flour

1 (1 1/2) tsp sugar

3/4 (1) tsp salt

1/4 (1/2) tsp dried basil, crushed

1 tsp active dry yeast or bread machine yeast (amount is the same for both sizes)

Select the loaf size.  Add the ingredients to the machine according to the manufactorer's directions. Select the basic white bread cycle.

Smoked Cheddar Loaf

3/4 (1) cup mild-flavor beer (make sure the beer is flat. It's easier to measure)

1 1/4 (1 2/3) cups shredded smoked cheddar cheese (note~for best flavor, buy the slightly pricey cheese in the deli case.       Cheddar bacon cheese is amazing in this recipe.)

1 egg  (same for both sizes)

3 (4) cups bread flour

1 TBS (4 tsps) sugar

3/4 (1) tsp salt

1 (1 1/2) tsp active dry yeast or bread machine yeast.

Select the loaf size.  Add the ingredients to the machine according to the manufactorer's directions, adding the cheese with the beer. Select the basic white bread cycle.

NOTE: For the 1 1/2 pound loaf, the bread machine pan must have a capacity of 10 cups or more.  For the 2 pound loaf, the bread maching pan must have a capacity of 12 cups or more.

I just received The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook by Beth Hensperger. Not sure how many are wishing for it. I had heard it was an awesome book for the machine and had checked it out of the library before putting it on my wishlist.  I haven't used my machine in a while. guess I need to!!

I got this recipe with my first bread machine (it eventually died).  EVERYONE loves them!!  I once made them for a church dinner (turkey and the works).  The cooks who slaved over the turkey were kinda jealous that most of the compliments were for the rolls.

BREAD MACHINE DINNER ROLLS

1 cup water

2 tablespoons butter, softened (can use margarine--but I am a die hard butter advocate)

1 egg

3 1/4 cups bread flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspons yeast (any type)

Place all ingredients in bread pan in the order listed.  Select Sweet Dough cycle.

Grease cookie sheet and divide dough into 15 pieces (so recipe goes - I use whatever).  Shape each piece into ball and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Brush with melted butter (not necessary, but good).  Cover and let rise 30-40 minutes or until double.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Brush tops with butter, AGAIN, if desired.

ENJOY!

Darlene S.