Bread, Bread, Bread and more bread!

Any guesses what this blog is about? BREAD!

It really is crazy when you look at the ingredient list in a loaf of store-bought bread. Or a bag of bagels.

PLAIN BAGEL INGREDIENTS: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, REDUCED IRON, NIACIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], WATER, SUGAR, SALT, YEAST, CORNMEAL, WHEAT GLUTEN, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, PRESERVATIVES (CALCIUM PROPIONATE, SORBIC ACID), GUAR GUM, CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, ALGIN, SOY LECITHIN, SOY FLOUR.

Basic humburger bun: enriched flour, water, salt, wheat gluten, calcium sulfate, soy flour, ammonium sulfate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, ammonium chloride, baking soda, sorbic acid, deactivated dry yeast, dough conditioners, calcium propionate & sodium propionate (preservatives), and soy lecithin. 

Make you a little uncomfortable to not be able to pronounce all the ingredients in your bread? It should. Lately I have made bagels, hamburger buns & english muffin bread is in the oven as I type. (I'll post recipe, we will assume it's good - I'll report later!)

I found the English Muffin bread recipe here. I made it exactly as she stated - using regular yeast - and I cut the recipe in half. I made 2 loaves, not 4.

Bagels! YUM Bagels!

1 cup warm water

3 cups of bread flour

2 TBS white sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

3 TBS sugar

1 TSP cornmeal

1 egg white

Toppings if wish:  shredded asiago cheese, poppy seeds, dried onion flakes, rock salt, cinnamon sugar...

1.  I add the first 5 ingredients in the order listed.  Set on Dough Cycle.  When complete, place dough on a lightly floured surface. Shape into 8, flatten them, and then poke hole in the middle.  (Make it big, because dough will rise.)

2. Cover bagels with a clean dish towel, and let rise.  Mine take about 30-60 minutes to get rise.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil.  Dissolve 3 TBS of sugar in boiling water.

3. Sprinkle an ungreased cookie sheet with cornmeal.  Heat oven to 375.

Transfer bagels to boiling water.  (My pot holds about 4 at a time.)  Boil for 1 minute, turning halfway through.  Remove bagels and place on dish towel to drain.

4. Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Glaze top with egg white.

5. Bake 20 minutes at 375.

These are amazing bagels! And - you can pronounce all the ingredients! YAY! We (my mom & I) made pesto asiago bagels. Add 1/4 cup pesto to the bread machine (add with the water), and top with asiago blend cheese before baking. Seriously, they're amazing.

Hamburger buns!

1 ¼ cups milk , slightly warmed

1 beaten egg

2 tablespoons butter - softened

¼ cup white sugar

¾ teaspoon salt

3 ¾ cups bread flour

1 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 

Place all ingredients in pan of bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.

Select dough setting.

When cycle is complete, turn out onto floured surface.

Cut dough in half and roll each half out to a 1" thick circle.

Cut each half into six 3 1/2" rounds with inverted glass as a cutter.

Place on greased baking sheet far apart and brush with melted butter.

Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.

Bake at 350° for 13 minutes. (until lightly brown)