#baking-recipes

[mommyyu]

Whole Wheat Pandesal

Who does not want to wake up in the morning to a brewing coffee and hot pandesal? The trick for soft fluffy bread is in the rising. So patience is an important virtue even in baking that bread next door. Haha! Here is my version:

Ingredients: 1 Cup of Warm Water 2 Tsp of Active Dry Yeast 1 Tbsp of Brown Sugar

2 Cups of Bread Flour 1 ¼ Cup of Whole Wheat flour plus 1 to 2 cups more for kneading ¼ Cup of Brown Sugar 1 Tsp of Salt 4 Tbl vegetable shortening 1 Egg ¼ Cup of Warm Water

Bread crumbs

Direction:

Dissolve 1 tbsp sugar and yeast in a cup if warm water. Let it rise for 15 to 30 minutes until it bubbles.

Meanwhile, mix well together the flour, sugar and salt. Add the shortening, egg and warm water. I recall watching my Aunt’s bakers use their hands to mix the dough so I do just this. Using disposable plastic gloves, I totally ditched the hand mixer and stand alone mixer and mixed the dough by hand. Add the yeast mixture. Knead well until well blended. Add some more flour and mix well (here, you may now switch to a blender to make sure everything is well incorporated). Dust a flat surface with more flour then knead more.

Place in a greased bowl and cover for at least 45 minutes to an hour or until it doubles in size. Punch down at the center of the dough. Divide the dough into equal parts and shape into balls (around 50 grams each). Coat with bread crumbs. One time I had left over honey wheat loaf slices, I toasted them, ground them to crumbs and used these. Adds character to the pandesal. Place on a well greased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Cover with a cloth (I use cheese cloth) and let it rise for at least another hour to double the size. Bake at 175 degrees C for 15-20 minutes.

[mommyyu]

Whole Wheat English Muffins

One thing I missed about London is the english muffins for early morning breakfast.  I guess this is the Brit version of our Filipino pandesal.  They are perfect for sandwiches too.  Look, I made me an Egg (Mc)Muffin with grilled cheese!

So here is my version, if you want to try baking some. I made it half-whole wheat an half-white flour.  I am still not confident with my capability of baking edible 100% whole wheat bread.  Next time. ;)

Whole Wheat English Muffin (Makes 8 buns)

Ingredients:

2 1/4 tsp instant dry yeast

2 1/4 cups fine whole wheat flour (plus more for dusting)

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp sea salt

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 cups whole milk, warmed

3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 egg, large and slightly beaten

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, mix the wet ingredients (milk, butter and egg). Set aside.

In a separate large bowl, mix the dry ingredients really well.  Whisk them all together.  Make a well at the center and pour the wet ingredients.

Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix together until dough is formed.  Knead on a lightly floured surface.

Flatten the dough using a rolling pin to about an inch thick.  Use a round cutter to cut at least 8 doughs (or more depends on how big the cutter is).  Place on a cornmeal or wheat flour dusted baking pan. Cover with towel or cheese cloth for about 20 to 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven at 162 deg. Celsius.

Place the muffins on a non-stick grill pan and grill for 5 minutes each side, on low fire. 

Bake the muffins for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

[mommyyu]

Nutty choco-banana loaf

Here is something for breakfast or snacks that is easy to prepare and not as messy.  No dough to knead so you do not smell like flour after baking and no waiting times for first and second rising (i.e. yeast free).  

Some would prefer creaming the sugar with softened butter.  This would pack some air into the loaf making it fluffy when done right.  I used melted butter instead as I want my loaf a little bit dense this time.  So it actually depends on your preference.

I like the tangy effect of baking soda (this is different from baking powder, fyi) and crunchiness because of the choco chips and nuts.  Hope you will like it too.

Nutty Choco-Banana Bread Recipe (Makes 1 loaf)

Ingredients

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs, room temperature

½ cup greek yoghurt

½ cup walnut, coarsely chopped

2 large (over)ripe banana, mashed

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 175 deg C.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix well. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together butter and sugar.  Add the vanilla extract and eggs.  Mix well.  Stir in the flour mixture.

Fold in the yoghurt, walnut, banana and finally the chocolate chips.

Pour evenly on a 9x5 inch well-greased or non-stick loaf pan.

Bake for 60 minutes.  Cool for at least 10 minutes then place on a cooling rack.  

Slice and serve!

Pretty yummy with coffee too. :)

[mommyyu]

Sweet Dinner Rolls

Here is another snack idea for your kiddos.  The rolls came out soft and yummy and not too sweet.  My husband says it was like a croissant but without the crumbly texture.

Sweet Dinner Rolls (makes 16 rolls)

Ingredients

1/2 cup warm water

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 cup warm milk

1 egg, room temp.

1/3 cup butter, softened

3 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup butter softened

For the chocolate filled variant: chocolate spread or nutella or chocolate chips or buttons

1 egg with splash of water, slightly beaten for egg wash

Instructions

In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tbsp sugar and active dry yeast on warm water. Let it rise and bubble for 10 to 15 mins.

Mix in warm milk, egg and 1/3 cup softened butter.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.  Slowly mix this to the yeast mixture.  Mix well.

Knead on lightly floured surface until just slightly sticky and smooth.

Let rise on a bowl covered with plastic wrap or clean kitchen towel. About an hour.

Punch down at the middle of the dough. Divide into two (2).  With a rolling pin, flatten each dough to a 12-inch diameter disc. Spread softened butter on top. Slice into 8 pizza-like wedges.  Roll each wedge starting from the edge (wide part).

For the chocolate filled variant: place chocolate filling on top before rolling the wedges.

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Let rise again for another 1 hour or until doubled in size. Meanwhile, preheat 176 degrees C.

Brush each roll with egg wash. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Brush with butter. Cool a little bit before serving.