Have you ever tasted something fresh for the first time and wondered why you spent years settling for the packaged version? That was me the day I walked into a Middle Eastern grocery store and bought a bag of warm pita bread. The package was still steamy, and I suddenly understood what pita was supposed to be. Store-bought pita can’t hold a candle to the homemade kind. My brand-new recipe for Bread Machine Pita Bread (with an optional oatmeal twist!) is finally live. Your bread machine...

Whether you are making a gift list for yourself or someone else, here are two things I think every baker or cook should have and use in their kitchen. DIGITAL SCALE: The fastest way to cook and bake more consistently—especially with flour. Weighing in grams removes guesswork and keeps recipes repeatable. Look for a scale with a tare button, 1-gram (or 0.1-oz) resolution, and an easy-to-read display. Set your mixing bowl on the scale and start dumping--no measuring cups required. I like the...

Have you tried my popular bread machine recipe, "Bread Machine French Bread"? It may not be authentic French bread, but it's an easy and delicious recipe for beginners that usually turns out great. Recently, one of my readers requested a whole wheat version. It's not quite as "fool-proof" because whole wheat has a different personality and needs a little extra care. When you try this recipe keep these tips in mind. A Few Handy Tips for Baking with Whole Wheat Flour White vs. Red. White whole...