I love baking bread. I don't do it as often as I'd like, but I have had enough practice to become very good at it. Precise measuring, fresh ingredients (especially yeast) and proper kneading will ensure great bread.
I have the morning off today because my daughter has a doctor appointment. I've been advised I need more carbs in my diet :-) so I woke up early and now have 2 loaves done and 2 more in the oven. It smells so good!
I order wheat berries and use an electric grinder to make my own whole wheat flour. I make it as needed so it is always fresh.
I do have a bread machine that was given to me, but I really prefer to use my Kitchen Aid mixer to knead the dough and then I shape it myself into pans for baking.
I am diligent with buying baking supplies when they are lowest cost and so I can make a loaf of whole wheat for 1/4 or less of the cost of buying a nutritionally equivalent loaf that is inferior in flavor anyway.
My favorite bread to make is sourdough, but that is a bit more complicated. :-)
Saturday I'm going to make beer bread.