Here's my current "standard" bread.
It uses the same dough ingredients outlined here.
The main changes are: whole wheat flour, a "beef" flavored ramen packet, adding pumpkin seeds & cranberries, and using a new bowl that's twice as large, so much easier to mix. :)
Half size dough in my new larger (~1L capacity) bowl (found at Dollar Tree, 2 bowls for a dollar):
After mixing the dough, I added some non-salted roasted pumpkin seeds ("Fleet & Farm" house brand) and dried cranberries (Walmart's "Great Value" 24 oz bag).
I didn't "measure" either, I just poured out what looked like about the "right" amount to add some flavor, texture, and nutrition. :)
After transferring to the crockpot:
Instead of letting it rise in the bowl, I let it rise overnight in the crock, however my next loaf I did let it rise in the bowl (I'll post those pictures soon).
This was the 4th and last time I had used that same piece of parchment paper - after the bake, it was definitely raggedy, as you'll see.
16 hours later:
After adding some Italian seasoning and dried Basil leaves (both from Dollar Tree):
This was yet another experiment. :)
I intentionally wanted to see how it would taste if I just sprinkled some on top, instead of mixing it into the dough.
After 5 1/2 hours of cooking:
Out of the crock, top oblique view:
Bottom of loaf, after cutting in half:
Side view, after cutting in half:
Reconstituted powdered butter on short end piece:
Lately, I've been cutting each loaf in half, then cutting off & eating the four short end pieces, sometimes with butter or hazelnut spread, sometimes with chunky soup.
The next couple of days I'll usually use the longer pieces to make grilled cheese.
Next day, using it to make grilled cheese (with Monterey Jack cheese, and mayo instead of butter on the outside):
Three days after baking, still in excellent condition:
More grilled cheese (cheddar):
This is a previous loaf (the very first one I made with cranberries & pumpkin seeds),
that I baked while in town (doing a resupply run).
While in the grocery store, I decided to buy one of those 2 ounce meat packets ("Buddig") of Black Forest ham & some Monterey Jack cheese,
and made sandwiches with the fresh still very warm bread:
It was superb. :)
Both loaves tasted just as good as they look. :)