Create handmade baked items from your kitchen: buns, dinner rolls, English muffins, cinnamon rolls, pizza dough, pretzels or bread sticks. This La Leche League recipe adaptation makes dough that can be formed into various shapes.
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1/3 cup cane sugar
2 tablespoons yeast
3/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons iodized salt
2 eggs
5 cups of flour: (1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour, plus 3-1/2 cups unbleached bread flour)
Dough:
Mix ingredients in a bread machine, then remove dough and shape. Or mix dough together in a large bowl something like this:
Dissolve yeast in warm water with sugar for five minutes.
Add in remaining ingredients, stirring well.
Add flour by the single cupful, stir, then use hands to blend, finally forming a ball. (Use more or less flour or water depending upon the dough.) Let rise for about 30 minutes. After the dough looks like it has expanded, place the dough on a surface with flour and shape.
Various Shapes:
Buns:
Roll out chilled dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Cut dough with 3 inch glass. Place buns on oiled cookie sheet allowing for sideways expansion. Allow to rise about 20 minutes. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 400 degrees.
Dinner rolls:
Shape dough into any type of rolls: cut into squares or circles, or roll into balls. Allow to rise. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 425 degrees. Raw rolls may be frozen.
English muffins:
Roll out chilled dough 1/2 inch think on a board or wax paper that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Cut into 3 inch rounds. Let rise 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer muffins with a spatula to a moderately hot un-greased griddle. Bake 4 minutes on each side or until light brown. Makes 14 to 18 muffins.
Cinnamon rolls:
Roll chilled dough into fairly thin, large rectangles. Sprinkle the dough with raisins, chopped nuts, and cinnamon. Heat some maple syrup (or honey or sugar) and butter until well blended. Drizzle over the dough. Roll up like a jellyroll. Cut into 1 inch slices. Place the slices close together and let rise on oiled (or parchment paper) cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Makes about 24 rolls.
Pizza dough:
Divide dough into thirds. Press out into a circle on a well-oiled pizza pan. Makes three 14" pizzas (medium thick). Let rise for about 20 minutes. Top with sauce and cheese. Bake pizza at 425 degrees for 15 to 30 minutes.
Pretzels:
Roll dough 1 inch thick rectangle. Cut into 12 strips. Roll and shape into pretzel shape or alphabet letters. Put on well-greased (or parchment papered) baking sheets 1 inch apart. Let stand 20 minutes. Brush with one slightly beaten egg white and 1 teaspoon water. Add coarse salt or poppy or sesame seeds. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Bread sticks:
Roll dough into thin tubes, twist two together. Place on parchment covered, non-stick, or oiled baking sheet. Let rise. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
