"Nick Cramer" wrote
> "cshenk" wrote:

>> > I have a Cuisinart coffee grinder and I'm happy with it and their
>> > service. I just looked at the Cuisinart CBK-100 on Amazon and ordered
>> > it! Thanks!

You will like it! Excellent starting machine now that I've got one and can
really see it. Since this is my 4th machine, I can give good comparisons.

My first Panasonic lasted well. It was similar to the cheaper 50$ or so
ones you see but it's flaw was it did a max of a 1.5lb loaf and the mixing
wasnt 'strong' if using rye or 100% WW flours. Had to go 1 lb loaf to get
those to work. This was however 15 years ago and they have improved since.
Finally burned out after about 8 years.

My second was also a panasonic but a bigger one and it worked well but
sometimes would stop (as if in dough only mode) but only on 2 lb loaf sizes.
Finally burned out just after we got here, about 1.5 years ago.

The third still works. (grin). Breadman Ultimate TR2500. I wanted to do
some of the fancy features at times. Flaw in the machine is the LED is
impossible to read from an angle so you have to put your head right over it.
Well documented in reviews and true, but works well for all of that.
POWERFUL machine that can knead anything at all.

The cuisinart is still new to me but it's a very *easy* to use machine.
Very little complexity to it once you figure out the breadpan doesnt just
'lift out' like all my other models did, but twist to the side and lift
(reverse to lock in place). The 'beeps' are louder which is a trade off for
some. I like the louder ones as I can hear them from another room and know
what it's doing (6 = remove paddle so no hole for example as it's done
kneading). It may not be so good though if you want to time delay a bake so
the bread is fresh at 6am for breakfast ;-)

>> I like it alot. The story of why I have one is posted in the
>> alt.bread.recipes group. Amusing sort of thing but we lost the paddle as
>> the Breadman Ulti one comes out *real easy* so we tossed it out by
>> accident. I ordered a new machine with easier to get parts and got a rare
>> bad one. (first CBK-100) then called Cuisinart vice Amazon for a
>> replacement so owe a bit of postage (my own fault and rare to have a
>> problem with the brand cuisinart).
>
> In fact, I remember the story. You deserve a paddling for throwing it out!

Hehehehe it *was* pretty funny! I'm actually glad now it worked out this
way as 90% of the time I want a simple loaf and just 'load and go' fast and
easy. Cuisinart wins the award for fast easy settings. 10% of the time i
want to do something more 'specialized' and the Breadman Ultimate TR2500 has
the flexibility once you work the menus to do anything. (I even programmed
in one just for me to 'knead' a soda bread with no rise. Medical issues
here with the right arm so this was helpful when I blew the neck herniation
again a few months back).

>> > As I said, I've made sourdough, a lot. I actually started sourdoughing
>> > in the early 60's. I know how much better homemade is than store
>> > bought!
>>
>> Maybe you can show me how with a machine? I can get the gist of the
>> amish 'friendship' starter where you'd use it for the water but not the
>> whole way to adapt to a breadmaker.
>
> I've got two starters in the back of my freezer. One is Carl's 1847, the
> other from Doug (& Marie) in Canada. When Sai's machine arrives, I'll fire
> up Doug's starter, as I suspect he may have moved on to that heavenly
> ferment. I've never used a bread machine, so doing sourdough in it may
> turn
> out to be a challenge. I'll keep you informed on r.f.s.

I see Brian Mailman gave a good recipe for sourdough that was adapted to a
machine. His is a 1.5 lb loaf recipe (machine setting = 1.5 lb loaf).

>> Grin, got it. Not sure where that impression came from but we know one
>> another!
>
> Yes! I recognized you immediately. ;-)

BTW, my official retirement after 26 years Navy is 31May2009. I pickup my
final DD-214 on monday.

Carol, ITCS technically until sunday

PS: small side note. Totally 'on topic' to have the rec.food.sourdough in
this thread (since the aim is to make sourdough!). But to prevent any
possible confusion, please be aware there are a few in this
alt.bread.recipes who use screen readers for the blind. Due to how the
software works, they may 'top post' which we here all gladly accept since we
understand it totally. They are good breadmakers with lots of good info!
They may pop in this thread and ask how many 'beeps' for a particular bread
method when doing the settings, or how many a particular model gives at
various stages.