Yeast, A Life of it's Own

[mixfinder]

VooDoo Test For Doneness

Grama used thwack her loaves with a forefinger and they were done when they sounded right. Time and precise pan size and oven temperature work well and lately food techies have us using an instant read thermometer to predict donesness. Starches begin to gelatanize at 185 degrees. The higher the moisture and sugar content in the dough the higher the finished internal temp should be. The doneness temperatures range from 195 to 205.

 

[mixfinder]

2 Loaves and 5 Fishes

I can't turn water to wine but I do have feeding the multitudes down pat. Bread should be removed from the pan to prevent sweating which makes the crust soggy. Never cut hot pread. If you need to portion it, use two forks and gently separate the serving size. An electric knife is splendid for cutting hot loaves without smashing them flat.

 

[rapunzel]

I wish we had smell-o-rama

I am imagining right now what your kitchen smells like.

I love cinnamon anything and bread is food from the gods. I bake my own bread occasionally, but use pure muscle power in the process. That way I can feel when the dough is ready and love the smell during the preparation. If I had the time, I would cook and bake a lot more. It is such a wonderfully creative and sensual thing to do.

You are such a tease posting this wonderful stuff, knowing fair well that all we can do is sit here and salivate over our screens.

Keep it up.

rapunzel

 

[mixfinder]

Pluck the Center

To make sure cinnamon rolls are done, gently lift one of the center spirals. If it stretches bake it a tad longer. If it breaks away cleanly the rolls are done. Glaze while hot.

 

[mixfinder]

Are Your Buns Sticky?

The sticky rolls are an accident waiting to happen laden with molten sugar. Let them set a few minutes for the caramel to cool and then in one fearless motion, flip them over on the counter.

 

[rapunzel]

Okay! That's it!

I'm commin' over!

 

[mixfinder]

Bottom Feeder

The last dregs of the dough will end up on my bottom.

 

[mixfinder]

Here Come the Judge

I don't think I can tell any discernable difference in taste of appearance between the two batches of dough. In this contest I guess I tip the scale to Silver Surfer since he's so much quieter.

 

[mixfinder]

Bedtime Stories

The dried flour, the drippy cups and the rock hard sugary cup cake pans are going to go night night in the Maytag dishwasher. No bending over the sink for me.

 

[rapunzel]

'The last dregs of the dough will end up on my bottom&#3

Really!? Well, all I can say 'those buns look good enough to eat' and I am willing to clean up the dregs without using my hands.

rapunzel

 

[mixfinder]

Come on Over

My idea of heaven would be cooking all day long for people who loved food, had no weight issues, no food intolerances and were insanely hungry. I have no venue now that the kids are gone. I bake and I eat and my horizons are ever expanding. making bread by hand is one of the only exercises that developes the heart muscle. It is tactile, rewarding and theraputic. I knead the dough in the mixer for about 5 minutes but usually do it in two stages. In the processor I blend the dough for 35 seconds, wait five minutes and then give it another 30 seconds. If I'm making it by hand I put in half the flour and beat it on high with the mixer for 5 minutes. Then I stir in the rest of the flour and keep kneading until the dough is smooth and shows no blisters.

 

[rapunzel]

'Come on Over'

I am booking my ticket as we type (wishful thinking).

It so true that the biggest pleasure in cooking is to observe people enjoy your efforts.

I have a friend who is also passionate about cooking. She actually dreams about recipes in her sleep and will get up at all hours of the morning to put them into reality.

She sets her table with all the trimmings, including artistically shaped cloth napkins. She doesn't just cook and eat, she creates masterpieces and eating for her is akin to a religious experience.

rapunzel

 

[rapunzel]

Sometimes, if I haven't the time, I will cheat with my b

When I do a stuffed bread, with boiled eggs, parma ham, basil, sun dried tomatoes, fresh mushrooms and two or three types of cheese, I place the ingredients for the dough into my bread maker and let it rip. After allowing it to rise in the machine I take it out, roll it and wrap all the indredients inside. Then I let it sit for another half an hour before baking.

 

[gansky1]

I think you posted the recipe for the dough and schmear to make cinnamon rolls before but I didn't save it. Did anyone else keep a copy?

One of my very favorite things is baking rolls - and red velvet cake.

I guess this means we have to marry ;-)

 

[toggleswitch2]

If you've got sticky buns, it means a good time is in store.

YUMMY! Don't bother to wrap it; I'll eat it here!

 

[mixfinder]

Can You Even Imagine

We both love kids, like to clean, enjoy laundry and even ironing, a clean house is a happy house, each appliance has a hidden trailer hitch, ready for the next move and we both love our mothers. We would set the House and Garden on it's ear.
Buttermilk bread
1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon yeast
let foam and add
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
2 cups warmed buttermilk
2 teaspoons salt
6 cups flour
You know the drill, mix and beat and raise and punch and raise and punch and shape and raise and bake.
Schmear
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites

Red Velvet Cake
Combine and set aside
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup red food coloring
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons vanilla

In the mixer bowl combine
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cocoa
Mix until no traces of butter remain. Add the buttermilk mixture and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add
4 eggs
Beat in eggs one a time and beat 1 minute on medium speed after the additon of the last egg. Pour batter into 3 prepared 9 inch cake pans and bake for exactly 22 minutes at 350. Do not overbake.

Red Velvet Frosting
In a saucepan combine
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
dash of salt
Slowly whisk in:
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil and then cook for one minute. Cool completely. Turn pudding mixture into the mixer bowl and beat on medium speed. Add
1 cup room temperature butter
Drop the butter in a few tablespoons at a time. Then increase speed to high and beat for 5 minutes.

 

[tlee618]

We really have to work on a Cook-IN

Kelly thank you so much for sharing all of this fun with us!! Todays bread looks fantastic!! Those of us that are interested in the cook-in we really need to start think about a location for this event. One would have to starve for a week before it and a week after but it would be worth it!!

 

[frigilux]

It all looks great, but I'd eat a couple of those sticky buns right off the counter, Kelly!

And few things are more satisfying than cutting into a fresh, homemade sandwich loaf and slathering a thick slice with butter. Or making a perfectly-tanned piece of toast with homemade peanut butter. Yum!!

 

[appnut]

Well, since you visited two doctors' offices yesterday with all those cookies, I'm glad to see you took it easy today and loafed about and a little crusty. I have no doubt you could sell each one of those products and make a nice stash of dough at the same time. OK, I won't coin any more puns, but it was the yeast I could do to contribute and get a rise out of some of you.

 

[bernina]

a clean house is a happy house

mixfinder, thanks for sharing your bread-making and cinnamon roll process. Everything looks wonderful!

Can I ask you how you clean your oven? Do you use self-clean mode or some other method?

(We love to cook and bake, and our oven is downright embarrassing compared yours.)

Thanks!