Sticky Buns

Had to use up the other half of the dough I made the other day. Just took sticky buns out of the oven, these are best served warm.


Sticky Bun Recipe

Grease a 9X12 baking pan. Pour 1/2 cup melted butter in bottom of dish. Drizzle 2 Tbsp. light corn syrup over butter. Sprinkle 1/2 cup brown sugar over butter. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, about 1/2 cup. Set aside.

Brought the dough to room temperature. Rolled out to about a 12X16 rectangle. Brush 2 Tbsp. of melted butter over dough, sprinkle a mixture of 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.

Roll up dough, pressing edges to seal. Slice dough in 1 inch pieces, place cut side down in pan. Cover and let rise till double in bulk, 45-50 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake about 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool in pan for 2 minutes, invert onto wire rack. Yields 12 buns.

Apple-Pear Bread

Baked a sweet for my "sweetie food critic" this morning. Fruit filled, served warm with morning coffee/tea. Yummy !




Filling:

1 apple, peeled and diced
1 pear, peeled and diced
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Raisins
Chopped Nuts

Toss apples and pears with sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Dough Recipe

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 pkg. yeast
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten

Combine flour, sugar salt and yeast. Set aside. Warm milk, butter and water in saucepan over medium heat. Add milk and eggs to flour mixture. Mix with dough hook for about 4 minutes. Place in container with tight lid and refrigerate overnight.

Divide dough in half, bring to room temperature. Roll out on lightly floured board into 12X9 rectangle. Cut 1-inch wide strips on each side of rectangle. Fill the center of dough with apple and pear mixture. Add raisins and chopped nuts over top of fruit.


Braid dough by folding strips of dough at an angle across filling. Cover with towel, let rise in a warm place till double in size. Brush top of bread with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with sugar.


Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil baking sheet.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Mandazi

Mandazi is a spicy, fried Doughnut from East Africa. The following recipe is adapted from "A Taste of Africa" by Tebereh Inquai.

Mandazi Recipe

3/4 cups warm water
1/2 tsp. yeast
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. crushed cardamom seeds
Oil

Proof yeast in warm water for about 5 minutes. Combine dry ingredients. Add oil to yeast mixture, stir well. Add dry ingredients one cup at a time. Knead for 5 minutes, using a dough hook or by hand.

Divide the dough into four balls. On a lightly floured board, take each ball of dough and press out a circle about 6 inches round, cut into quarters. Place on a lightly floured cookie sheet, cover and let rise about 1 1/2 hours.

Heat about 2 cups of oil in heavy skillet, fry on both sides till golden brown.

Dust with confectioners sugar while still warm.

Double-Crust Pizza

We had a virtual pizza party at the Cooking Forum, my contribution was a double-crust filled pizza. Perfect meal for Superbowl Sunday !

Double-Crust Pizza Recipe

Lou's Pizza Crust

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg. yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 cup warm water

Mix yeast with 1/2 cup warm water and sugar, let proof. Add oil and 1 cup of water to yeast mixture, stir. Combine flours and salt, add to yeast mixture. Knead on dough hook for 5 minutes, or by hand for 10. Cover and set in warm place till dough doubles in bulk. Punch down, divide into fours for cake pans, or in half for 14-inch deep dish pizza pan.

Filling:

2 10 oz. pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thaw and drain
2 cups mozzarella shredded cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 pound ground Italian sausage
1 large skinless chicken breast
1 cup marinara sauce

In large bowl combine spinach, mozzarella, egg and oregano, set aside. Heat a small skillet over medium heat, add sausage and onion and cook till browned. Grill skinless chicken breast on stove top. Cut chicken into cubes. Add chicken, marinara sauce and sausage mixture to spinach, stir well.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil two 9-inch cake pans, or one 14-inch deep dish pizza pan

Spread 1/4 or 1/2 pizza dough in bottom of pans/pan. Spread filling over dough. Take remainder of dough and roll out in large circle, arrange on top and pinch edges to seal. Brush top of crust with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.