baking bonanza

While visiting my mom last week she gifted me with 10 pounds of King Arthur flour, 5 white, 5 wheat -- thank you mom. She's apparently not baking much anymore and it was too much for her to keep.

Today was baking day; let me tell you there was a whole lotta baking going on.

I started with a double batch of Cuban Bread which I made 1/2 wheat 1/2 white (recipe is for single batch):

4-5 C. flour
2 C. hot water
1 T. yeast
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt

add yeast, sugar, salt and 2 C. flour to hot water. Stir well. Mix in remaining flour until dough is no longer sticky, knead 8 minutes. Oil dough, cover, set to rise 1 1/2 hours or until double. Punch down, form into rounds, let sit 15 minutes. Bake 325 degrees 30 minutes or till done.

Then I made Bath Buns. They're a yummy treat but I don't make them often because they are fattening. I have been craving them though so today was as good a day as any other to give in to the craving. These were made solely out of white flour:

3 C. flour
1 1/4 C. milk
1 t. yeast
1 t. salt
1 C. butter
2 T. sugar

Warm milk slightly, pour a little over yeast. Rub softened butter into flour, salt and sugar. Add creamed yeast and mix to light dough with the milk. Cover and let rise 1 1/2 hours until dough has risen very high and is light and puffy.

Form 12 buns and place on a greased pan. Cover and let rest 15 minutes. Bake 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

Glaze & sugar, eat warm.

2 T. powdered sugar 1 T. milk in sauce pan. heat and brush over buns. Sprinkle with sugar. Optional: Adorn with stripes of lemon or orange peel.

Next up was strawberry-banana muffins:

1 C. whole wheat flour
2 C. white flour
1 t. baking soda
1 C. oil
1 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1 egg
1/2 C. honey
1 T. vanilla
1/4 C. wheat germ
2 bananas
1 C. sliced strawberries
1/4 C. water

Throw all into mixer and mix until batter forms. Spoon into muffin tins and bake 250 degrees F 25-30 minutes until done.

That was followed by a double batch of King Arthur's Whole Wheat Brownies. This is the recipe from the back of the bag and it's awesome (recipe is for single batch):

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspooon salt
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix everything together, bake in a greased square pan at 350 F for 30 minutes.

And after all of that baking I still have enough flour left to make a batch of bread (mostly whole wheat). But I think I've created enough baked goods for one day.

Next on the list? Cleaning the ungodly mess I've made in the kitchen.