Guess what?? I had my very first blogiversary this week! One year ago, I set out making this little blog as a resource for my friends and family. Never did I imagine that it would grow to include so many wonderful friends and readers from all over the world.
Looking back it is fun to see how my cooking skills have improved. I started out with very simple recipes (most that I’d made many times before) growing ever outside of my comfort zone to newer complex recipes and even beginning to create some of my own original recipes.
I also look back on those photos from one year ago. While I still have a lot to learn, I can see that I’ve come very far in just one year.
Thank you readers and blogging friends for making this blog a success!
But onto today’s recipe. I always love a good fresh loaf of bread (though I tend to shy away from baking as much in the summer), but I’ve never made my own buns. You see, that is my grandma’s territory. She makes the world’s best buns and rolls! I can seriously eat them by the bagful.
But as I was flipping through one of my favorite cook books, I found a recipe for 10 grain bread. It wasn’t fabulous. But I had a feeling that with just a bit of tweaking, the 10 grain bread recipe could turn into a fabulous homemade hamburger bun. And so it did! We definitely have enjoyed these with hamburgers al summer long (and they’re so healthy!)
Keep reading for the giveaway!
Multi-grain Hamburger Buns
Adapted from Healthy Bread in Five Minutes A Day
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups ten-grain hot cereal (such as Bob’s Mill brand), uncooked
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
¼ cup vital wheat gluten
1 ½ tbsp granulated yeast (or 2 packets)
1 tbsp kosher salt
2 ½ cups lukewarm water (100 degrees or slightly warmer than body temperature)
½ cup honey
5 large eggs
2/3 cup canola oil
In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, cereal, vital wheat gluten, yeast, and salt. Stir on low until well mixed.
Add in the liquid ingredients and mix them with the dry ingredients until the flour is incorporated, without kneading.
Pour the dough into a lidded 5-quart bowl or container. Put the cover on, leaving 1 corner open to vent. Allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
Place the dough in the refrigerator overnight (leaving the one corner of the container open). Dough can remain refrigerated for up to 5 days.
On baking day…
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Open the lid of the container and dust the dough generously with flour and wet your hands (to prevent sticking). Separate the dough into 16 equal sized portions (¼ pound each). Gently form each portion into a smooth ball by stretching the dough gently around the sides to the bottom, turning slightly as you go.
Place the formed buns 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets and press down lightly until slightly flattened. Cover the buns loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 40 minutes.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until browned and firm. Cool completely before serving.
Makes 16 buns
As part of my 1 year blogiversary celebration, I’m also hosting my first giveaway. I want one of you lovely readers to have a copy of Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, the first book written by the author’s of Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day.
It will revolutionize the way you think about baking. And trust me – even if you don’t consider yourself a baker, or are deathly afraid of yeast – even you can bake bread with this book! So how can you win? Let me tell you!
1. Leave a nice comment! Tell me if you love baking bread or loathe and fear it!
2. Follow me on Facebook
3. Share the giveaway on Facebook with the following:
“I want to win and start baking @Amy’s Cooking Adventures http://bit.ly/nlvn0O !”
4. Follow me to Twitter
5. Share the giveaway on Twitter with the following:
“I want to win and start baking @AmysCookingAdve #giveaway http://bit.ly/nlvn0O !”
6. Tweet once daily for 1 additional entry per day
Winner will be chosen randomly and notified via e-mail one week from today on September 7 (please make sure you have a valid e-mail listed on your profile or add your e-mail in with your comment)
The giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Torview Toronto for winning!
Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by me! I am in no way affiliated with the authors of Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. I just really like their book!