Product Review: Hodgson Mill's Caraway Rye Bread Mix

There is nothing more satisfying or delicious than fresh baked home made bread. Most of us don't have the time or the inclination to do the baking ourselves, and yet it's something that we all appreciate when it's offered.

Lately, I've been trying to add more whole grains, and fewer preservatives into my diet. I check the labels on ready made breads, but I never really feel all that happy with my purchases. So when I saw Hodgson Mill's whole grain bread mixes I picked up a box.

The only mix that my local grocery store carries is the Caraway Rye, but that's fine with me because it's absolutely delicious. Like most fresh breads, it's a bit heavy and a little bit drier than what I'm used to. It's designed for use in a bread machine, but also has instructions for oven baking which is what I used.

The directions were very easy to follow, and the box contained all of the ingredients aside from the water and shortening. Kneading the dough didn't take very long, and allowing it to rise takes no effort. In fact, the most difficult part of the process was washing the two bowls and the bread pan after it was all done (the first being used to mix the dough, and the second to allow the dough to rise).

The price was reasonable, at about $2.50 per box, each box making one loaf. And the ingredients list is quite impressive to me, containing two stone ground whole grains, unbleached and enriched flour, and actually lists sugar as "sugar" rather than artificial sweeteners like what I've been seeing lately.

My husband actually enjoyed it as much or more than I did. I had only intended to buy it when I felt the urge to have something healthy and fresh, but decided to purchase it again the following week since he enjoyed it so much.

The whole grains make the bread so satisfying that I use it as a part of my breakfast along with a bit of cheese and fruit. It keeps me going for hours. I honestly can't think of a single thing that I dislike about Hodgson Mill's bread mix. Even the length of time that it takes from start to finish can be easily circumvented by using a bread machine- which is what it's designed for.

Hodgson Mill's Caraway Rye bread mix is healthy, delicious, affordable, and gives the warm, fuzzy feeling that only a fresh baked loaf of bread can give.