Thank You: Thanks for all the info, Donna and Gina

The "thingie" was buried completely up in the loaf about an inch with just a little hole showing, so there was no way to go up there and bring it back out thru the hole - had to cut that first slice carefully and get it out that way.

So as long as I know that's not something that's broken on the machine, it won't be a problem - and yes, Donna, that thingie was HOT - when I did dig it out I ended up dropping it on the floor I was so surprised and today I have a little blister on my thumb! Next time I'll know to just let it cool first. Live and learn.

Gina, I put in a search on TRL and came up with dozens of neat bread machine recipes. I think I will like the kind that has lots of stuff in it - like nuts and trail mix and fruits, etc with some whole wheat flower. Although many of these recipes just had the ingredients listed, do I understand that all bread machine recipes start with putting all the wet ingredients in first, then adding the dry with the yeast being the final ingredient on the top?

Gina, do you have any special favorite recipe that you use in your machine? This one makes a 1, 1 1/2, and 2 lb loaves.

Thanks for all your help once again.

Love, June