Bread and Buns

Bread and Buns   Makes 2 bread loaves and 8 buns

by: Wayne Koch

 

This is an easy recipe which I've had very good luck with. The texture and flavor is great. I don't think you can find a much better bun for burgers or garlic toast.

2 ½ cups warm water (100 – 110˚ F)

 

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

 

1 tablespoon sea salt

 

4 tablespoons olive oil

 

½ cup honey

 

2 eggs

 

~ 9 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (can substitute up to 2 cups of whole wheat flour)

 

1. In a large bowl, pour warm water and sprinkle the yeast over the top.
2. Add salt, oil, and honey and beat together slightly. (Tip: Measure the oil into the ½ cup source used to measure the honey. Oil coating helps get all the honey out.)
3. Beat in the eggs.
4. Slowly beat in flour, a cup at a time. (Note: If substituting whole wheat flour, start with 1 or 2 cups all-purpose white flour.) After 5 or 6 cups using a beater, move to a spoon, and finish with well floured hands. Work the dough inside the bowl until most is worked into a lump and off the sides of the bowl; then turn out onto a slightly floured surface. Knead dough about 10 minutes with well-floured hands, adding small amounts of flour until dough just stops sticking to everything.
5. While dough sets on slightly floured surface, clean the large bowl then grease it liberally. (Tip1: Use a paper towel as a wash cloth. The residual dough will gum up a dish sponge or brush.) (Tip2: For grease, I've found Crisco butter flavored Baking Sticks works great and adds to the flavor of the bread.) .........Form the dough into a round ball; place it in the large greased bowl. Turn it around in the bowl to get all the surfaces well greased. Cover it with a moist towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 ½ hours.
6. Punch down the risen dough and turn it onto floured surface.
7. Divide it into three pieces. Knead two of the pieces for about 5 minutes; add flour as needed to keep it from getting sticky. Form into 2 loaves and place into large greased loaf pans turning over in the pans to grease all surfaces.
8. Divide the third piece into 8 equal lumps of approx. 1 ½ in. dia. With greased hands, roll each into a ball and then flatten into a bun shape, about 2 ½ in. dia. Place onto a greased flat pan with space between them to allow for rising.
9. Cover the two loaf pans and the pan with bun dough with moist towel , place in a warm place and let rise for about 1 hr. 10 minutes. (Note: I've had some problems with tops of dough sticking to the moist towel.)
10. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake buns for about 30 minutes and loaves for about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack for about an hour before serving.