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3 When the delay timer is set where you want it, make sure to press the "Start/Stop" button. The colon ":" will flash and your bread will be ready when you planned. Important: When using the delay timer during times of hot weather, you may wish to reduce the liquid in your recipe by 1 or 2 tablespoons. This is to prevent the dough from rising too much. You may also reduce the salt by 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoons and try cutting the amount of sugar you use by 1/4 teaspoon at a time. Tips and Hints Experienced cooks consider bread making to be as much of an art as a science. Keep in mind that some recipes may require a little experimentation before they are exactly the way you want them. Just don't give up. Still, there are special hints to ensuring quality bread almost every time. Use Exact Measurements We've already mentioned how important it is to use exact measurements when baking bread, but it should be said again. Level off all dry ingredients and make sure that all liquid ingredients are measured in a glass cup with the markings clearly labeled on the side. Use Fresh Ingredients You should always use fresh ingredients. The reasons are: • Flour - If you have stored your flour for a long time, it may have become wet from absorbing moisture, or dry, depending on the area of the country in which you live. We recommend using fresh bread flour. • Yeast - Fresh yeast is probably the most important ingredient in baking bread. If the yeast is not fresh, your bread may not rise. It is better to buy new yeast than to take a chance on yeast that has been stored for a long time. You can test the freshness of your yeast. Simply fill a cup with warm water, then add and stir in 2 teaspoons of sugar. Sprinkle a few teaspoons of yeast on the surface of the water and wait. After 15 minutes, the yeast should foam and there should be distinct odor. If neither reaction happens, the yeast is old and should be thrown away. Add Ingredients in the Correct Order Read all recipes from top to bottom, and remember: - FIRST, liquid ingredients - SECOND, dry ingredients - LAST, yeast Check the Doughball This is a secret well known by people who make bread the old fashioned way. While hand kneading the mixture, they adjust the consistency of the dough by adding a little flour or a little water until the doughball is just right. Although the breadmaker kneads the dough for you, this secret is still true. Here's what you should do. If the doughball is too wet During the second kneading cycle, check the consistency of the doughball. If the doughball appears sticky or wet, like pancake batter, sprinkle in flour, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough ball appears smooth, round, and dry and circles nicely in the pan. www.oster.com 13