Need help!

Why is that when I make bread it doesn't rise? I've made it 4 times and everytime it turns out flat - it rises 2 cm maximum - so the only way I can eat it is in a soup. I use 40 gr of baking powder and the mix rests for at least half an hour. I've also tried beer bread.
What do I do wrong? Which recipe do you use?

 

have you tried using self-raising flour?

 

I've never heard of it...

Just googled it: 500 grams flour + 20 ml Crème-of-Tartar + 10 ml Bicarbonate of Soda.
"Sift all the ingredients together four times and then seal tightly in a clean container until needed."

What's the difference between self-raising flour and using regular flour + baking powder?

 

okay, umm im not really sure what the difference is, umm..sorry
ill try and find a godd recipe like that for you though

 

Try a pack of Yeast in the mix.

 

good call, matt...i've never been able to make bread rise w/o yeast.
when i first started making bread, it would never rise. i would be sooo frustrated after spending ALL day waiting on bread to rise & ending up with a very heavy, hard as a brick, completely inedible loaf. anyway, i had a long-time bread making friend come over & coach me....apparently, i was over-kneading
you just want to knead until bread is spongy & not too sticky, but NO longer.
there is an AWESOME bread book that was put out by the authors of the 'Laurel's Kitchen' cookbook put out in the seventies. google it & see if you can find it....
keep trying...it gets better, i promise & good luck!

 

Thanks everyone! I'll try kneading less and if I can find yeast I'll try that too

 

Here's a hint when using yeast. Empty the packet into HOT water.
(The amount your recipe calls for.) It will disolve well, then you mix the dough. Cover and it will rise.

 

hot, but not TOO hot!
you can kill the yeast if the H2O is boiling! (you can tell i've done this!)

 

Use a bread making machine. No fuss. No fail. But no crispy crust either (darn!!)

 

the only breadmaking machine i have is me ...........and yes you need yeast ..my preference is fleishman's ....warm water and yeast and i add one teaspoon of sugar to it and let it set for one hour ....then i add it to the flour and add more water ..mix and put the dough where it is warm ..let dough rise ,then i knead it again to get the air bubbles out ...i make 22 loaves and rolls at a time .i way prefer homebaked to store bought ........even if i'm a guy ....sorry ladies ,i'm taken ..lol