Bread and Buns

I bought milk the other day and planned to do some baking with it. I usually drink almond milk and figured I should use real milk in some of my baking. Other then making a milkshake and proceeding to spill it not once but twice (the second time all over the floor with hilarious results) that was all the milk I had used and it was now at it's best before date. So, what's a girl to do? Studying for a quiz in horrible advanced financial accounting? or bake? no contest. I ended up making a quick-buttermilk bread and fresh hamburger buns for the portobello mushroom burgers I planned to have on Saturday.

I have made this quick-buttermilk bread before. I made it with real buttermilk that time, and with dill and onions. It was delicious. This time I went a for something a little more exciting. I made it with hot pickled peppers and cheddar and habanero Kraft shredded cheese!

Quick-Buttermilk Bread

as adapted from thekitchn

2 cups AP flour

2 tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup chopped up hot banana peppers

1 cup shredded cheddar/habanero Kraft shredded cheese.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cooking loaf pan 9x5.

Whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, egg and olive oil.

Dump the wet ingredients to the dry and mix them together. A soft, saggy dough should form. Fold in your cheese and peppers. Be careful not to over mix.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and push into corners. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Once taken from the oven let cool in pan for 15 minutes before removing.

*I did not use real buttermilk. I made my own by putting a tbsp of lemon juice in a bowl and pouring the milk into the bowl, stirring it a little and then letting it sit for 2-3 minutes until it started to curdle.

The second delicious thing I made was Hamburger Buns. I really enjoy making bread and buns, I do not have a mixer or a bread machine so I do all the mixing and kneading by hand and I just love it! Making buns and bread takes quite a bit of time from all the mixing, kneading, and especially all the waiting for the dough to rise, twice. But if you have time it is totally worth it. If you are having a baking kind of day why not make some bread and while your waiting make some cookies to pass the time!

Hamburger Buns

as adapted from thekitchn

1 tbsp active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp sugar (I used a little less)

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups AP flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tbsp margarine

In a large bowl pour in the yeast and then pour the warm water over it. Stir it a little then wait for the yeast to dissolve.

In another bowl whisk together the milk, egg, oil, sugar and salt.

Add the whisked ingredients to the yeast. 

Add in the flour and mix until it forms a soft dough.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. The dough with start to become smooth, very slightly sticky and just start to look really pretty. 

Once the dough has been kneaded place back in the bowl and cover it. Let it rest for about an hour in a warm spot. The dough should double in size.

Once the dough has risen remove from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. 

Cut the dough into 8 pieces and form each piece into a tight ball. I use both hands and go around in a circle continuing to tuck everything in until the dough is taught. 

Then place the round little guys on to a baking sheet and push them down a little in place.

Cover the buns in and let them rise for about 40 minutes. They should double in size again.

Preheat the over to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter/margarine in a bowl and brush over the buns. This will give them a softer top when baked.

Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes until golden and delicious.

Let them cool a little while before attempting to slice them. 

After the buns were made, and I returned home from work it was time for me to make portobello mushroom burgers and have a nice dinner with my boyfriend. We both decided that our hamburger was  pretty good. The patty however was really tasteless, but the bun really sold it.

 Stick to what you know I suppose.