Good question, Linda! Does your bread machine have multiple baking settings? For hard crusts, it may simply be that all you need to do is turn your machine down from a setting for a darker bake to a setting for a lighter one. Without having tested any of the recipes you're using, it's tough to say why your loaf isn't rising well, but it's possible that your dough has a bit too much flour or too little water in it. Try experimenting with a wetter dough, and see if that doesn't help with some of your rise issues. Best of luck, and happy baking!

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