Simple, Tasty and CHEAP! (Tesco Crusty White Bread Mix)

Member Name: sewbizzie

Product:	Tesco Crusty White Bread Mix
Date:	02/11/09 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use

Disadvantages: A little waiting around for the dough which can be annoying

I have had a bread machine for some years now but for some reason I lost interest in it and only recently decided to did it out and start using it again. Also the fact that it will save me a few pennies. I was on the look out for a decent priced bread mix on recent shopping trip and this is the one which I finally decided on.

~~THE PACKET~~

The bread mix comes in a green and white paper packet. The front of this had the product name at the top in white lettering a at the bottom is a picture of a sandwich. The back of the packet has information on storing the mix, Nutrition and the number to call if you have any problems with this mix. The one side of the packet have allergy information and ingredients and on the side is the directions for use.

~~USE~~

For me the quickest way of using this mix is to pour the white flour like mix into the tin in my bread mix and add325ml of warm water and then press the start button on the machine. For those of you who do not have a bread maker or would like to make small rolls then the directions are below.

Place the bread mix into a large bowl and add the 325ml of warm water. I found that adding it slowly make for easier mixing and less lumps. You need to mix the water in for a good 5 minutes, I have at times found this to be longer, until the mixture turns into a dough. A food mixer can be used for this but personally I have found that a spoon to start the mixture off and then I use my clean hands to finish it off and make a great dough. Yes your hands will be rather mucky after doing it this way but it is such a better and nicer way of making up a great dough.

The dough then needs to be placed onto a lightly floured surface and left to rest for 5 minutes. After this time it should be kneaded and then left again for a following 2 minutes. After this time then it needs to be shaped into a ball and left for yet another 5 minutes.

After all of the time has elapsed the you can mould the dough into your required shape. I have found that the amount of dough you have make a nice 10 small round rolls or if you like them slightly bigger then you should get a good 8 rolls. Plating the bread makes for a nice loaf or you can simply place it into a the standard loaf design. After you have chosen how you want your dough then you place it onto a greased baking tray and lightly dust the top with flour.

After the dough has been dusted you need to cover it with a lightly damp cloth and leave for30-40 minutes. I personally leave it for the full 40 minutes. After this time you will notice how the dough has doubled from its original size.

Now is the time when you can actually get the dough into the oven. It needs to be placed in the lower half of the oven and cooked on gas mark 8, 230 degrees Celsius or 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 30mintes for a loaf or 20 minutes for rolls. The bread should be a nice golden brown colour when cooked.

When removed from the oven please allow to cool for a few moments before tucking in!

~~RESULTS~~

The bread which comes out of my machine is absolutely lovely and all of my family enjoy it. The only downside to using the machine is that the bread always ends up with a hole in the bottom from the kneading arm in the machine but this is only a small downside when the ease of making the bread is taken into account.

The results which we found from cooking and making the bread without the machine were just as good. I did notice that the crust on the loaf not cooked in the machine was not a thick or crunch as the machine loaf but this is no real tragedy for me as I do not eat crusts anyway.

The bread is a nice white colour and is very light to eat. My boys like nothing more than having a nice think slice of it toasted for with their breakfast and always tell me that I make the best bread!

The best thing I find about baking my own bread is the smell which wafts around my whole house. It is so welcoming and for some reason always makes me feel hungry! The smell from this bread is no exception and even when it is gone the bread still has a lovely fresh smell when sliced.

~~INFO~~

The nutritional values of this bread mix and finished 100g loaf when nothing is added to it are:-

Energy - 245Kcal
Protein - 9.7g
Carbohydrate - 47.1g
Of which sugars - 2.1g
Fat - 1.5g
Of which saturates - 0.4g
Fibre - 3.3g
Sodium - 0.4g
Salt equivalent -1.0g

The ingredients to the mix are:-

Wheat Flour, Yeast, Salt, Chickpea Flour, Vegetable Fat, Emulsifier (Mono and di-Acetyltartaric Esters of Mono and Di Di-Glycerdes of Fatty Acids) Dextrose, Flour Treatment Agents (Ascorbic Acid)

This bread mix is suitable for Vegetarians.

To store this bread mix it must be kept in a dry and cool place and once opened it must be kept in an air tight container.

The brad mix has a very long shelf life and on the last one I bought it was dated a good 10 months away.

~~PRICE AND AVAILABILITY~~

As this bread mix is made by Tesco then it is only available in their shop and comes in a 500g packet with a price tag of 65p. For me I find this is very reasonable and you cannot pick up a decent loaf for any where near this good price now in any shop.

~~OVERALL~~

Overall I do rate this mix very highly as it is convenient, cheap and makes my house smell wonderful. Also my boys enjoy it and think I am the best bread maker ever!

Summary: An excellent bread mix for both hand made and machine use