I've been on the local Freecycle list for a couple of months now, and a few days ago, on a lark, I made a request on it: a bread machine. "Going on the Atkins Program for the new year? I'd love to give your bread machine a good home!" I got a response in five minutes! How cool is that? And I didn't have to even drive to the lady's house, her husband brought it downtown! It's a Sunbeam 3833, and while it did smell slightly of cigarette smoke (hey, beggars can't be choosy), it works fine. In fact, it's churning away right now on a loaf of Sally Lunn bread to go with some peanut soup. (Yes, I know that both those items are loaded with fat, this is just hedonism's last gasp before I start counting Weight Watcher's points in earnest.)

I plan to make yummy breads to give as gifts, and good-for-you whole wheat bread as well. Heck, maybe I'll get bold and try to make bread on my own without technology! I hope Alton Brown will understand, I'm sure he'd give me the frowning of a lifetime for using a bread machine.