We all have kitchen gadgets, often bought during a health-craze phase of our life (smoothie-maker/juicer anyone?...yes I thought so!), which occasionally leave the cupboard (a couple of times a year at most) to grace our kitchen worktop with its presence.
I am the shameful owner of said under-used kitchen gadgets but I must admit that the best investment I have made so far in la Suisse is a kitchen gadget. Because I know how this sort of story usually pans out, I kept a clear conscience by only spending 30CHF buying a second-hand bread machine from our local brocki (second hand/antiques/junk shop). I thought that at least if it doesn't work properly (there is always a risk buying electrical items second-hand) or if I we get bored of it, it wouldn't be too much of a waste of money.
I love bread (I am French after all) and we consume astronomical quantities of the stuff eating sandwiches for lunch everyday (Mr T is British after all). Buying bread from the local baker every day is quaint but not cheap and we love cheap in this house (Mr T is from Yorkshire after all). So making our own bread sounded like a good idea...
And it is! The basic bread recipe only requires water, flour, salt and yeast and even making fancier bread (like walnut bread below) does not require that many additional ingredients and works out so much cheaper than buying it from the delicatessen.
Olive bread, olive and bacon bread, walnut bread...the possibilities are numerous!
And when my niece and nephew came over to stay, I found a recipe for making brioche in a bread-machine and can honestly say this recipe makes the best tasting brioche I have ever had!
Since we have bought the machine in January, it has probably been used forty odd times (on average twice a week) which I think is a great return on my small investment.
Hurray to the bread machine! What kitchen gadget would you not live without?
5 comments:
Sounds delicious. I might have to break down and buy one myself. Have not done so due to reasons you have so nicley phrased "leave the cupboard" or NOT.
En Guete!
I didn't realise you were French! Wish my French was half as good as your English. That walnut bread...!! I think my favourite gadget is my zester - not very high-tech but worth its weight in gold - I make a lot of lemon cakes! x
A local Brocki! That caught my attention. I have yet to visit a Brocki outside of the city. The one I like it Brockiland, which is quite a distance to travel, now that I live in Maur.
What a GREAT investment, this breadmaker. I want one too, but I don't have much space in my teeny tiny kitchen (or kitchenette).
As for a kitchen gadget I cannot live without... I think the handheld blender. I thought the rice cooker would be it, but no, I still cook rice in the pot because the rice cooker burns rice instead :(
Oooh I love making bread too! Never tried to make a brioche but I really should cos I love it! I couldn't be without my big mixer for creaming butter & sugar together etc for my baking - really saves on the hand-ache lol xx
Walnut bread is my favourite!!
Victoria xx
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