Lin,
That's funny that your "thingy ma jig" broke on your breadmaker...one time I
tried making a loaf in mine and it came out all hard and I couldn't get the
"thingy ma jig" out of the bottom of the loaf. I sat the bread down on the
kitchen counter and my son thinking that the bread was garbage through the
loaf along with the "thingy ma jig"! Needless to say, you can't use the
breadmaker without it, I had to write the manufacturer and get a new one but
haven't tried making anymore bread since.
Perhaps I should try it the way you do....maybe someday!
Love to you my Kiwi Friend!
Lesa