Forum Thermomix

Thermomix Recipes for TM5 and TM31 => Bread => Topic started by: ThermomixBlogger on September 24, 2009, 08:01:01 pm

Title: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: ThermomixBlogger on September 24, 2009, 08:01:01 pm
I expect to be using the forum bread recipes A LOT in the coming months because I've set a new challenge for myself... Why? Because it is SO EASY and INEXPENSIVE to save money by making bread in the Thermomix! As some of you already know, since I started, I just can't stop baking. So a few weeks ago I decided to take things one step further and simply not buy any more bread (or other baked goods) from the store...!

I figure, if I talk about it "out loud", maybe I'll achieve the goal... so I started blogging about it and posted the first bread photos on the new blog:  http://SuperKitchenMachine.com/2009/1494/how-to-bake-bread.html

Mostly, I'm using a modified version of the Brioche Dough on page 116 of "Every Day Cooking for Every Family". I modify by using a blend of regular and whole wheat flours, a mix of water and milk instead of just milk, and a blend of olive oil and butter instead of just butter. Also, I add 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate) powder to help with the rising. So far, the outcome closely resembles the bread my mother used to make as I was growing up -- but a little bit healthier.

This machine has brought so much new fun in my life, I can barely contain myself!
Thanks to the forum for all these bread recipes - Trying Thermomixer's Five Seed Bread next!

Cheers,
ThermomixBlogger
(Canada's Frugal Fan!)




Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: judydawn on September 24, 2009, 11:47:17 pm
Good for you ThermomixBlogger - lovely to see someone with such enthusiasm.  I only make bread as a special treat or just to prove to myself that I can do it.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: gertbysea on September 25, 2009, 12:39:18 am
That is the beauty of this whole thing Valerie. You can take any recipe and run with it. Sharing it is the bonus for all of us. I am with you that bread is just too expensive and for the most part a lot of crapola. I prefer to make my own. I don't eat a lot of it but when I make it I always share it with the neighbours.

Are you feeling the winter coming on yet?

Cheers,
Gretchen
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: faffa_70 on September 25, 2009, 01:33:01 am
I haven't bought bread for years, always made it from scratch even before the TMX with the breadmaker. Once you have been making your own for a little while you just won't go back! As Gretchen says it is just crapola (love that word we use it in this house to avoid the language police -DS4!!) I also notice DS3 & 4 are really affected by store bread when they have it at other people's places unplanned.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: Thermomixer on September 25, 2009, 02:08:23 am
Well done Helene - good luck with the blog  :-*
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cookie1 on September 25, 2009, 07:17:32 am
Congratulations. I'm sure you'll be able to keep it up with the help of the TMX.
I eat nothing but 5 Seed bread now. I have to stop myself cutting the slices really thick. It seemed to stick together in the freezer so now I place a piece of cling wrap between each slice.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: Chelsea (Thermie Groupie) on September 25, 2009, 12:19:33 pm
That's a great challenge - good luck.  I'm sure your TMX will help you along nicely.  We haven't bought a loaf of bread since we picked up our TMX.  I usually do my loaves in my breadmaker and rolls and special bread in the TMX/oven.  My DS3 was given a sandwich of store bought white bread by his GM last weekend and said the bread tasted very funny.  I wasn't quite sure if "funny" was good or bad, but he hasn't complained about my bread so far.  ;D
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: I Love Bimby! on September 25, 2009, 02:36:00 pm
All the very best with that challenge! We make about 60% of our own bread at home.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: ThermomixBlogger on September 26, 2009, 09:13:14 am
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! Yup, it shouldn't be hard to do with TMX, but it sure is a switch in the head for someone who's never owned a bread maker. Partly I'm doing this just to show others (especially those reading my blog who don't own a Thermomix yet) that it can be done. I'm really enjoying not having to go out for bread anymore. I can actually make it faster at home than it takes to run out to the store! Before, I used to always agonize about which loaf was healthier, best value etc, and I spent a LOT of time standing around comparing loaves in the shop aisles. Now, presto, it's done!

See you again soon, on some other page of this fantastically helpful forum! (wish I had more time to visit, but I'm spending all my time cooking and blogging these days. What a life!)
Cheers,
Thermomixblogger Helene
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cathy79 on October 17, 2009, 06:16:26 am
What's your next Frugal Fan Challenge?
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: ThermomixBlogger on October 17, 2009, 06:47:01 pm
oh Ho Ho CathyBenson79... are you CHALLENGING me to come up with a new challenge?!?   :D ;D ;)

I suppose I may just have to RISE to that one! ;)  ;D

Hmmmm. I have been thinking about it. I did want to do "buy no more butter from the store" and that would be easy to do, but surprisingly, after testing it out...  it doesn't save us any money. :(  The cost of cream here is the same as the resulting butter from the TMX... I think I need a better challenge that will save $$$. Also, it should be something that I can actully succeed at.... ;)

Thanks for challenging me. I will put on my frugal cap once again and get busy....

hmmmm

... tmb
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: CarolineW on October 17, 2009, 09:25:31 pm
It's funny, but I just decided a couple of days ago to do the same thing (well, minus the blogging  ;D ).  I've been making my spelt bread for ages, even before the TMX, because I can't digest wheat.  But I only occasionally made DH and DD's wheat bread.  But I hate the thought of the additives - and the extra cost!  So I'm trying to do all of theirs too now.

I like the idea of Frugal challenges - that fits well for me and our lifestyle  ;D
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: gertbysea on October 17, 2009, 11:38:31 pm
I can think of  challenge. How about we don't go grocery shopping for one week and use up what is in our fridge, freezers and pantry. Probably send the economy into a spin!

Gretchen
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: judydawn on October 18, 2009, 01:31:26 am
And from someone who actually succeeded in doing this a little while back - IT CAN BE DONE ;) ;) ;) One tip though - get enough long life milk in before you start.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cathy79 on October 18, 2009, 03:32:15 am
I love the idea of coming up with a new challenge.  The "no shopping" challenge is a great idea.  There is a website which promotes this idea, and usually allows one or two exceptions.  So for us it would be milk.  And for families with young children, the challenge does not include nappies, formula etc - it is for food only.

Should we go with this as our next challenge Helene?  Any other ideas?
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: gertbysea on October 18, 2009, 03:40:51 am
Food only  and milk for the kiddies. A much much harder challenge would be to give up our Thermomixers for a week or heaven forbid this forum.

I'm game. I might find some interesting things in the freezer.

Gretchen
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: ThermomixBlogger on October 18, 2009, 11:24:32 am
I like the idea of Frugal challenges - that fits well for me and our lifestyle  ;D

Hi  CarolineW! The Frugal Fan Challenge #1 (http://SuperKitchenMachine.com/2009/1494/how-to-bake-bread.html) was started as a way of showing proving to Canadians that there are ways to save money with Thermomix. here, most people think those of us who own a Thermomix (and you can count us on one hand!) are crazy, rich types who have more money than brains. That's certainly NOT me! If I could show people here that Bimby is not just a "rich man's toy", and that it can even help people save money, I think more people would be open to hearing about it. That's the same reason I was asking for Bimby owners to send in a photo of their Bimby...  ( http://SuperKitchenMachine.com/2009/2161/thermomix-photos.html ) because I wanted to show Canadians that 'real people' own Bimbys...

And so far, from what I can tell, the people in this forum are mighty real.  ;) and cool... 8) and cheeky too  :o

TMB
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: Ceejay on October 18, 2009, 12:46:40 pm
I love the idea of coming up with a new challenge.  The "no shopping" challenge is a great idea.  There is a website which promotes this idea, and usually allows one or two exceptions.  So for us it would be milk.  And for families with young children, the challenge does not include nappies, formula etc - it is for food only.
Have been doing this on another forum I admin on.... only we all use cloth nappies so that part doesn't count!  ;D I have done 2 weeks and spent a total of $22 in the fortnight on foodstuffs!  :o
Almost felt like I was cheating since I had the TMX!  :-\
Quote from: ThermomixBlogger
And so far, from what I can tell, the people in this forum are mighty real.  ;) and cool...  8) and cheeky too   :o

TMB
Us? Never!!! :D
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: judydawn on October 18, 2009, 01:06:01 pm
Well done Ceejay - a great effort. ;) ;)
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: CreamPuff63 on October 18, 2009, 03:59:25 pm
I picked up a book in the bookstore along these lines (think it was $21 per week), and I nearly bought the book because the IDEA really appeals to me. Unfortunately, realistically speaking even the milk, butter, cream, eggs, cheese, and nuts (very basic items) our family of 5  consumes a week means that we could not even attempt to get near this. Throw into the equasion all the other little lovelies like frozen raspberries, blue berries, bananas to name just a couple, and we are out of the competition before we are in it. I reckon every time I walk into the supermarket on average I walk out conservatively about $70 (at least) poorer. We shop 7 days a week. That is very embarrassing to admit...but we are all very healthy...

Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cathy79 on October 19, 2009, 01:55:00 am
We all shop differently and have different lifestyles, needs etc.  I think part of the idea is to get creative.  Eg halfway through making muffins, I don't have any chocolate chips.  So I see what else I have instead eg sultanas, berries, apple, tinned pear, instead of going to the shops for chocolate.  So I think you can run with the IDEA with a few mods for your needs.  Eg buying nothing except milk, butter, fruit & vegies etc.  What works for one, won't work for everyone.  And maybe the bigger the family, the bigger the allowance - not necessarily $21.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: Ceejay on October 19, 2009, 06:22:28 am
I picked up a book in the bookstore along these lines (think it was $21 per week), and I nearly bought the book because the IDEA really appeals to me. Unfortunately, realistically speaking even the milk, butter, cream, eggs, cheese, and nuts (very basic items) our family of 5  consumes a week means that we could not even attempt to get near this. Throw into the equasion all the other little lovelies like frozen raspberries, blue berries, bananas to name just a couple, and we are out of the competition before we are in it. I reckon every time I walk into the supermarket on average I walk out conservatively about $70 (at least) poorer. We shop 7 days a week. That is very embarrassing to admit...but we are all very healthy...



It's not about doing it every week CP63!  Just those weeks where you a little short of $$ ;)
I did it because the pantry/fridge etc needed to be cleaned out and I refused to let much of it go to waste.  :)
85% of my shopping is organic so it's a challenge but one I really enjoyed!
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: Ceejay on October 19, 2009, 06:24:20 am
We all shop differently and have different lifestyles, needs etc.  I think part of the idea is to get creative.  Eg halfway through making muffins, I don't have any chocolate chips.  So I see what else I have instead eg sultanas, berries, apple, tinned pear, instead of going to the shops for chocolate.  So I think you can run with the IDEA with a few mods for your needs.  Eg buying nothing except milk, butter, fruit & vegies etc.  What works for one, won't work for everyone.  And maybe the bigger the family, the bigger the allowance - not necessarily $21.

It's worked out to $21 per family of 4. As there are 5 of us here, technically it's supposed to be $26.25 a week.  You can add $5.25 per each extra family member... I didn't count it as such as my youngest is 2 and I doubt it makes that much difference really.  Ask me when he's 10!  :D
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cookie1 on October 19, 2009, 06:37:12 am
I looked at that book too. I was a little disappointed when I read that it was only for one week.  I thought someone had performed a miracle and we could feed the mob for $21 every week.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: Ceejay on October 19, 2009, 06:46:51 am
Here's a link to the first chapter online.

http://www.21dollarchallenge.com/chapter-one.pdf

 :)
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: CreamPuff63 on October 19, 2009, 06:51:45 am
Me too cookie! My fridge and pantry are packed to overflowing -- and my kids still say "we have no food!". I come back from the shops juggling close to a hundred shopping bags draped along and around various body parts and they look at me puffing and panting under the sheer weight of it all...and say "I hope you have some food there because we have absolutely NOTHING".  Gotta laugh. (We have a fat phantom in our house that eats everything also, because if you ask who ate all the biscuits that were cooked just 2 hours before -- it appears that no one had more than 2... if they were even lucky to have seen them even or try them at all). I'm afraid I put that book right back on the shelf because I knew it just wasn't feasible.  :-))
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: faffa_70 on October 20, 2009, 06:49:04 am
Yes CP63, we have the same china-man live under/on our roof. DH calls him Sum...... I won't repeat the rest as it is rather rude lol but totally know where you are coming from lol
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: CreamPuff63 on October 20, 2009, 09:11:55 am
ROFWL  ;D yes, I know him too. Sure does get around.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cathy79 on October 20, 2009, 09:47:17 am
Is it the same gremlin that uses the last roll of toilet paper and doesn't replace it?  Or put it on the shopping list?
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: CreamPuff63 on October 21, 2009, 11:01:45 am
That'll be him! On the rare occasion if you ever catch him in the act of something, he will actually disguise himself and morph into a family member. But that is very rare because he is super sneaky and rarely gets caught.
Title: Re: My FRUGAL FAN CHALLENGE #1 - No more bread! (from the store)
Post by: cookie1 on October 22, 2009, 01:59:22 pm
...............or puts the empty plate back in the fridge and forgets to say when something runs out or they used the last one.