Kaiser Rolls Recipe

The hamburger bun is probably the top roll in the country, but it lacks the great chew of a good Kaiser roll. I make kaiser rolls every once in a while just to say I did, and if you haven't i think you should try to make them too. My recipe is a little different from most others, but I like it.

1 1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cu dough starter
1 tsp yeast
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 tbsp oil
4 cups bread flour

for topping:
poppy seeds
egg wash (beaten egg and a little water)

Mix the first 7 ingredients together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Then add the flour. Knead to form a smooth, soft (but not sticky) dough. After 6 min of kneading it should be ready. place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and let rise until well doubled. It is best to let this dough rise relatively slow to develop flavors. Once the dough is risen turn it out onto a work surface and gently redistribute the air by pressing its surface. Now form the dough into pieces large enough to form 1 in wide 13 in long snakes of dough. Now follow the pictures above to form the snakes into a kaiser roll shape by looping each one around itself. Place the finished rolls on a greased and cornmeal covered baking sheet to rise until doubled again. Once risen brush the rolls with egg wash and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake in a 375 degree steamy oven for 20-25 min. enjoy!

Hearty Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Cinnamon raisin bread is good! But not necessarily good for you. This recipe hopes to change that. It makes one loaf.

1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 package yeast
2 cups bread flour
1 cup whole whet flour
1 1/2 tsp vital wheat gluten
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon mixed with 1 tbsp sugar

Combine 1st 5 ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the next 4 ingredients and knead to form a smooth elastic dough. Place in a greased bowl and let rise until fully doubled. Remove from the bowl and place on worktop. Shape dough into a rectangle that is the same width as the loaf pan you will be baking it in, and 1 in thick. Spread the raisins out over the dough. Then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over it. Roll the dough into a log tightly and then squeeze the ends. Place in a greased loaf pan and let rise until it is just above the rime of the pan. Bake on 375 degrees for 40 min. This makes great toast with cinnamon sugar and butter, or cinnamon raisin french toast. mmmm fiber.

Homemade Bagels: Basic Recipe

I don't believe there are very many things more fun to bake than bagels. I always thought bagels required to much skill and special equipment to make at home, but ever since I discovered one could make quality bagels right in the home kitchen, I have made them regularly. I now realise almost anything can be made at home (a secret the food companies are glad to keep hidden). Here is my basic recipes for bagels.

3/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup dough starter
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp malted barley flour
1 tbsp sugar
3-4 cups bread flour

Extra Equipment: pot of boiling water (at least a 1 gallon), 1/4 cup baking soda, cooling racks, egg wash (beaten egg and water)

Place all the ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer (holding a cup of the flour) and knead until smooth and elastic. Bagel dough should be stiff not soft, so add the extra flour as necessary. When the dough is well kneaded (about 7-8min) transfer to a lightly greased bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled.

Now portion the dough into balls (the standard is 4 oz for bagels if you have a scale). I just eyeball it to whatever size I like. Once you have formed your balls let them rest on the counter for 15 min. Now take the balls and poke a hole in the center and stretch it out (much farther than you want the final bagel hole to be since it will get smaller).

Add the baking soda to the boiling water and boil the bagels two or three at a time, about 1 1/2 min per side (they will be bumby but will smooth out in the oven. Place the bagels on a rack and brush with the egg wash. If you want to add poppy seeds or some other toppings add them now. Place the bagels on a parchment lined, greased or corn meal coated sheet and bake 375 degrees until browned (20-25 min). Enjoy!