Recipe: Bits o' Bacon Bread (with garlic and basil, bread machine)

BITS O' BACON BREAD

"The preparation of this bread may be a little more complex than most, but don't be put off - the finished product is definitely worth it. This is one of those loaves the whole family eats up, right out of the oven. If it lasts long enough, this tasty loaf enlivens any soup or salad."

FOR A REGULAR LOAF (1 lb.):
(Pan capacity less than 12 cups)*
2/3 cup water
4 tsp. butter
1/4 cup bacon with fat**
1 2/3 cups white bread flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
4 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried green peppercorns, crushed
1/2 tsp. chopped basil
Pinch garlic powder
1 tsp. fast rise yeast or 2 tsp. active dry yeast

FOR A LARGE LOAF (1 1/2 lb.):
(Pan capacity 12 to 16 cups)*
1 cup water
2 tbsp. butter
1/3 cup bacon with fat**
2 1/2 cups white bread flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. dried green peppercorns, crushed
3/4 tsp. sweet basil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp. fast rise yeast or 2 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

FOR AN EXTRA LARGE LOAF (2 lb.):
(Pan capacity more than 16 cups)*
1 1/3 cup water
3 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup bacon with fat**
3 1/3 cups white bread flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried green peppercorns, crushed
1 tsp. sweet basil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. fast rise yeast or 4 tsp. active dry yeast

This recipe can be made with the white or rapid bake cycles.

*With a liquid measuring cup, determine how many cups of water your machine's pan holds when filled to the rim.

**Cook bacon until almost crisp. Set bacon fat aside while you crumble cooked bacon, then remix bacon and fat before measuring.

SUCCESS HINTS:
- Extra pepper may be added to taste.
- After loaf is partially cooled, brush with butter and sprinkle a little coarsely ground salt on top.

Source: Electric Bread by Suzan Nightingale and Staff of Innovative Cooking Enterprises