Bread

Machine French Bread[8]

French Bread

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 egg white(large), fork beaten
  • water 1tsp

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in bread machine in order given. Run machine through dough cycle. Remove dough. Roll into 10 inch(25cm) log. Place on greased baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. using a sharp knife, make 3 diagonal cuts in top. Cover with tea towel. Let stand in oven with light on and door closed for 45 minuets to 1 hour until doubled in size.

Brush top and sides with a mixture of egg white and water. Bake in 400°F oven for about 15 to 18 minuets. Turn out onto rack and cool. Makes 1 loaf.

Cheese Sticks[9]

Cheesesticks

Ingredients:

For the pizza dough

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon honey {or sugar}
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
  • 3 cups bread flour {give or take 1/2 cup...depending on the heat & humidity}

For the cheesy garlic bread sticks

  • 1/2 recipe Fail-Proof Pizza Dough from above
  • 2 tablespoons softened salted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese {use the real stuff!}
  • 1/4 pound grated mozzarella cheese
  • {salt & pepper, if desired}

Instructions:

For the pizza dough--In a large mixing bowl, preferably that of a stand mixer, stir yeast and honey into warm water. Sit for 5-10 minutes or until bubbles form and mixture starts to foam. This tells you that the yeast is alive and kicking. Pour in salt, oil and half the flour and mix. Once that flour is incorporated, start adding flour in bit by bit until you get the pizza dough to the consistency you want: slightly tacky, but when you touch it it doesn't stick to your hands. Once you reach this stage, knead for 6 minutes. Turn a timer on and walk away! Resist the temptation to stop earlier than 6 minutes! That seems to be the magical number. The dough should be smooth and easy to work with. And the bowl should be clean! {*This is the point when you could freeze your dough!! Divide into portions, place into freezer bags, seal removing all air and freeze. To use, remove from freezer and let sit out to get to room temperature and double in size; 6-8 hours. Then use as you'd like.} Lightly grease the bowl & the dough so it doesn't dry out, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise 1-2 hours. That's it! Use as desired.

For the Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks- Preheat oven to 500 degrees with pizza stone inside. {If you don't have a pizza stone, use an upside down cookie sheet...a tip I got from Natalie!}

Mix butter and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.

Spread pizza dough out into a 12-inch circle on parchment paper. {This makes it easier to transfer to the pizza stone.}

Spread the butter and garlic mixture over dough and top with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Top with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper, if desired. {That step is totally optional!}

Burger Buns[10]

hamburger buns

Ingredients:

Buns

  • 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • *For best results (a smooth, slightly soft dough), use the smaller amount of water in summer (or in a humid environment), the greater amount in winter (or in a dry climate); and something in between the rest of the time.

Topping

  • 3 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions:

Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough.

Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it's nearly doubled in bulk.

Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball; flatten to about 3" across. Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for about an hour, until noticeably puffy.

Brush the buns with about half of the melted butter.

Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Remove them from the oven, and brush with the remaining melted butter. This will give the buns a satiny, buttery crust.

Cool the buns on a rack.

Yield: 8 large buns.