The Many Benefits of Bread

Ah, bread.  No one can deny that bread is one of the best parts of a meal, whether it’s the main ingredient or just a side dish.  Personally, I love making my breads from scratch, but I know most people don’t do that.  Buying a loaf of bread from the store is cheap and convenient.  But, did you know that making your own bread is cheaper and also convenient?
There are many breads that can be made in a matter of just fifteen minutes and can bake unattended.  When I make my own bread, I use ingredients that I have at home and generally end up spending around fifty cents for a loaf of bread.  Compare that to your $2.99 loaf of bread at the store, and making your own bread starts to sound like a good deal, right?
I think having good bread is absolutely necessary for breakfast and lunch.  Sandwiches and bread-based options such as toast or French toast are always great options to serve to people.  If you’re serving dinner, it’s always nice to provide homemade bread to your guests so they can soak up the sauce.  If you’re serving a starch-heavy dinner such as baked potatoes or pasta, bread isn’t entirely necessary, but still nice to serve for a side dish.
If you want to start making your own bread, all you will need is a stand mixer, pan and oven – that’s it!  If you think about how cheap it is to make your own bread, the stand mixer will pay for itself within a matter of months.
Another great reason for making your own bread is that you can completely customize the flavors.  When I’m making bread as a crostini base, I love to throw in a bit of rosemary and dried kalamatta olives.  You really get the chance to be creative when you make your own bread, and isn’t that what being a chef is all about?