ST. JIMMI'S BREAD MACHINE RAISIN BREAD

I frequently bemoan the fact that my family doesn't particularly like my cooking.  I blame it less on my cooking and more on their unsophisticated palates, but there you have it.  One exception, though, is my bread machine raisin bread, which I came up with after much trial and error and tweaking of existing recipes.  The Inmates don't like it, so my record is still intact with them.  The Vulcan, on the other hand, can polish off half a loaf as a midnight snack.  Grandma, Uncle Chester, and I all think it's very tasty.  My biggest fan, though, is my blue tick coon hound mix, St. Jimmi.  Unfortunately, raisins can be toxic to dogs (much like chocolate), so I have to pull off small pieces of buttered bread and check for shriveled fruit before passing them on to a very grateful dog.

If you have a bread maker and want a super-easy, slightly sweet, and yummy raisin bread, then here you go:

ST. JIMMI'S BREAD MACHINE RAISIN BREAD

7 oz. water, lukewarm
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cups of bread machine flour
1/3 cup rolled oats
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 to 1 cup raisins
1 package or 2 tsp. dry yeast
1/8 cup honey
1-1/2 T. butter

Pour water in bread machine pan.  Add salt, flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.  Gently tap pan to settle the ingredients  Make a small well in the center and add yeast.  Pour honey over top.  Cut butter in four pieces and place each in a corner of the pan. 

St. Jimmi, hanging out on the cat perch

This recipe makes a one pound loaf.  I bake it on the "medium" bread color setting and for "basic" bread.  Since the honey, brown sugar, and raisins give it a light sweetness, I prefer it topped with just butter, but it's also good with a variety of jams and jellies.  Just be careful to remove raisins before feeding it to any canine family members.

Enjoy!


For other great recipes, craft ideas, and more, please check out Milk & Cuddles' link-up post here.