KitchenAid Mixer fun

Today started with my first attempt at making homemade bread. I got a kitchenaid stand mixer for Christmas and ordered the dough hook (after ordering the wrong one the first time, the right one finally came a couple weeks ago). I was inspired by the amazing homemade bread that Michael's mom made when we visited her in December. The mixer makes it more manageable because it does the kneading for me. I usually try shortcuts when following recipes, but this time made an effort to stick to the directions as closely as possible. The only hitch to that was that I had quick rising yeast which says it cuts rising time by up to 50% and since I don't know what "double in size" looks like exactly without getting out a ruler, I had to guess at when it was finished rising. I think I may have cut the rising time a bit too short. The bread was a little more dense than I hoped for and a little undercooked despite the fact that it was "golden brown" on top. It is certainly edible, but not as melt-in-your-mouth, no-need-for-butter good as Mrs. I's. So far it is just right with cheese or I think it would be phenomenal with jam (I'll have to "borrow" some of Michael's homemade stuff). I also discovered that I would like to get the pouring shield (as I was trying to pour in extra flour and kept dumping it on top of the dough hook which flung it all over the counter). It was kind of a fun experience with an edible result. I plan to make small changes for the next attempt and hope for slightly better results. Then I plan to get adventurous: making rolls and other flavors of bread.  Eventually I plan to make a cheesecake with the mixer too b/c it'll be so much easier not having to try to hand stir cream cheese! I just need an occasion so I have people to share it with. :)