Yes, I know, that's a stupid question. But when I read the instructions for my bread maker, it just doesn't make sense.

Basic white bread recipe for a 2lb (900g) loaf:

water 360ml

skimmed milk powder 4tbsp

sunflower oil 4tbsp

sugar 3tsp

salt 2tsp

strong white bread flour 960g

yeast 1 1/4 tsp

If this is for a 2lb loaf, why do we start off with more than 2lb of flour? I also have to say that the recipes in the book are terrible and do not work out, I have made several heavy flour bricks and have now resorted to making bread by hand which I am enjoying very much.I think that it's instructions like this that get bread machines a bad name and probably result in many being left unused after a first try.