Bak Kwa Bun

Another 3 week more Chinese New Year will coming. A lot people already start buy the festival stuff and the decoration things. Last few day I online purchase the Bak Kwa (Chinese: 肉干), it only cost me less than RM 30 per 500g. This is one of the snack during the Chinese New Year must eat one. Some friend ask me try to make it, but it really too much things have to prepare, better bough from the shop more easy.

Bak Kwa not only snack, it also can become the Chinese Bak Kwa Sandwich. Today I use it to make the Bak Kwa Bun. It is one of my favor bun I’ll bough during night market for next day breakfast. 

It only need a basic dough and the Bak Kwa.

The Dough i use back the previous Red Bean Bun Dough , can refer red-bean-bun dough page. 

Another ingredient have to prepared like Bak Kwa, Egg and Sesame .

Instruction:

- After the dough ready divide to into 6 small dough

- Take 2 slice Bak Kwa and divide it .

- Use the roll pin roll rectangle shape and put the bak kaw on top and start roll it.

- Put aside and allow to rise up another 30 min.

- Egg wash the bun then finally add the sesame on top of the bun 

- Put into the preheat oven bake about 15 to 18 mins with 180 ͒

Steph's Homemade Bak Kwa Bun

Red Bean Bun

Recently I love to make bread. Although I know eat a lot of bread will gain weight also, but I still interesting on it. Red bean bun also a favor bun of my mom and the kids also love it.There still have 2/3 bag red bean paste leave over form the previous Tang Yuan. So today I’ll make the red bean bun for the next day breakfast.

Let’s see what have to prepared

TongZhong Roux Ingredients  :

- 10g (1 1/2tbsp) Bread Flour (Also can use all multipurpose flour)

- 55ml water

Dough Ingredients :

- 25ml WramMilk

- 3g (1tsp) Yeast

- 15g (4tsp) Sugar

- 90g (12tbsp) Bread Flour (Also can use all multipurpose flour)

- 1tbsp egg

- 5g butter

Other Ingredients :

- Red Bean Paste

- Egg (for egg wash )

Instruction :

Part 1 - TongZhong Roux

- Firstly we have to prepare the TongZhong Roux before we make the dough. Take a small pot add in 

  55ml water and the 10g Flour and mix it well

- Turn up low heat and warm up the TongZhong liquid and nonstop stir until thickened.

- When be thickened then can set aside to cool. After can start to prepare the yeast.

Part 2 - Yeast

- Warm the milk and add in to the big bowl. 

- Add in 1tsp sugar and stir until dissolved into the milk .

- Add 1tsp yeast and keep stir until the yeast mix well with the milk. 

- Allow the yeast prove for 10 to 15 mins. (Then you can see there have some some bubbles in there)

 Part 3 - Dough

- While the yeast ready add in the TongZhong Roux and stir well.

- Add in 1tbsp egg in the mixture and mix it.

- Add in the balance of Sugar and keep stir.

- Add a pinch of salt and the 90g flour

- Use the spoon slowly mix all the mixture.

- Then can start knead with hand until forms dough.

- While the dough mix it well then can add in 5g butter can keep knead about 10 to 15 minutes.

- Cover with the wrapping plastic and allow to rise for 1 hour.

- After an hour, the dough should be double or bigger size than that. 

Part 4 - Make the Red Bean bread

- Press dough to release the air.

- Divided the dough to 20 small ball and make a round ball out of each piece.

- Refer to the below and make the bun .

- After the shape done and cover with the plastic wrapping and let rise for 30 min.

- After the sausage bread will rise double size and can egg wash it

- Put into the preheat oven bake 15 minutes  180 ͒ .

There have many way to make the red bean bun shape, i just follow few of it to make it. 

Fan Red Bean Bun Shape

- Take a round dough and flatten a ball until it is about 3 inches in diameter 

- Place 1 red bean ball in the center.

- Fold the dough up and over the red bean paste to cover it

- Seal the center tightly so that the red bean paste will not come out.

- Put the sealed part face down on a mat and press the dough into about a 2 inch diameter.

- Cut 8 decorative slits around the edge, equally spaced apart.

Flower Red Bean Bun Shape

- Take a round dough and flatten a ball until it is about 3 inches in diameter 

- Place 1 red bean ball in the center.

- Fold the dough up and over the red bean paste to cover it

- Seal the center tightly so that the red bean paste will not come out.

- Use the roll pin flatten out the dough as round shape

- Use the knife slide it but don't slide until bottom

- Turn over the flatten dough and start to roll it.

French Cut Red Bean Bun

- Take a round dough and flatten a ball until it is about 3 inches in diameter 

- Place 1 red bean ball in the center.

- Fold the dough up and over the red bean paste to cover it

- Seal the center tightly so that the red bean paste will not come out.

- Use the roll pin flatten out the dough as rectangle

- Roll it like the Swiss roll style

- Use the scissors cut like French Cut. 

Steph's Home Cook Red Bean Bun

TongZhong Mini Sausage Bread

Previously the bread which I bake I’m using the crazy dough formula. Yesterday I watch the Youtube which published form Fruity Kitchen. The way she made the dough not so difficult and easy to understand.

In Fruity Kitchen Youtube, the recipe has to prepared 2 sections which is TongZhong (Roux) and dough. Sometime I watch from the Youtube, some of them will using TongZhong Roux, that time I also no idea why have to use it.

TongZhong Roux  is a flour and water roux that is added to yeast bread recipes. This is done in order to make aloaf of bread that is lighter, that has a tenderer crumb and a longer shelf life.

Let’s see what have to prepared

TongZhong Roux Ingredients  :

- 10g (1 1/2tbsp) Bread Flour (Also can use all multipurpose flour)

- 55ml water

Dough Ingredients :

- 25ml WramMilk

- 3g (1tsp) Yeast

- 15g (4tsp) Sugar

- 90g (12tbsp) Bread Flour (Also can use all multipurpose flour)

- 1tbsp egg

- 5g butter

Other Ingredients :

- Mini Sausages

- Egg (for egg wash )

Instruction :

Part 1 - TongZhong Roux

- Firstly we have to prepare the TongZhong Roux before we make the dough. Take a small pot add in 

  55ml water and the 10g Flour and mix it well

- Turn up low heat and warm up the TongZhong liquid and non stop stir until thickened.

- When be thickened then can set aside to cool. After can start to prepare the yeast.

Part 2 - Yeast

- Warm the milk and add in to the big bowl. 

- Add in 1tsp sugar and stir until dissolved into the milk .

- Add 1tsp yeast and keep stir until the yeast mix well with the milk. 

- Allow the yeast prove for 10 to 15 mins. (Then you can see there have some some bubbles in there)

 Part 3 - Dough

- While the yeast ready add in the TongZhong Roux and stir well.

- Add in 1tbsp egg in the mixture and mix it.

- Add in the balance of Sugar and keep stir.

- Add a pinch of salt and the 90g flour

- Use the spoon slowly mix all the mixture.

- Then can start knead with hand until forms dough.

- While the dough mix it well then can add in 5g butter can keep knead about 10 to 15 minutes.

- Cover with the wrapping plastic and allow to rise for 1 hour.

- After an hour, the dough should be double or bigger size than that. 

Part 4 - Make the Sausage bread

- Press dough to release the air.

- Divided the dough to 20 small ball

- Roll out each dough into ropes.

- Wrap around each mini sausage and repeat for all 

- Cover with the plastic wrapping and let rise for 30 min.

- After the sausage bread will rise double size and can egg wash it

- Put into the preheat oven bake 15 minutes  180 ͒ .

Ham & Cheese Loaf

Sometime really no idea what to cook for the breakfast. Yesterday i went back early and have sometime to make the bread dough. After make the crazy dough i put aside and let it rise up overnight. I also just prepared the filling of the bread i wish to made it.

Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- 3 slice of  Ham (cut it in small slices)

- Shredded cheese
- Egg Wash

Instructions:

- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

- Cut the dough into half. (This dough can make 2 loaf) and use rolling pin roll to rectangle size.

- Add in the ham and shredded cheese and gently roll the dough into a tight log.

- Use the sharp knife slice the dough surface.(as below picture) 

- Egg wash the bread dough surface.

- Put it in the preheat oven bake 25 to 30 min with 180 ͒
- Remove from oven and wait 10 min then only start slicing.

Steph's Home Cook Ham & Cheese Loaf

Braided Onion Bread & Sausage Roll Bread

The day before i already make the dough and keep it in the fridge. So today breakfast i make the bread again. I think i been crazy already, everyday also eat the similar bread breakfast. I just used whatever ingredient can be find in my fridge and make today bread menu.

Spring Onion Bread
Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- Spring Onion (cut it)
- Egg Wash

Instructions:

- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

- Roll the dough in the long round shape and divided it in 9 small dough.

- Roll each dough as below picture and add in the spring onion and roll it back.
- Use 3 roll start to braid it together.
- Egg wash the bread before bake.
- Put it in preheat oven baked 20 min with 180 ͒

Way to Braided the Onion Bread

Braided Onion Bread

Sausage Roll 
Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- Sausage
- Egg Wash

Instructions:

- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

- Roll the dough in the long round shape

- Start wrap the sausage by using the dough 
- Egg wash the bread before bake.
- Put it in preheat oven baked 20 min with 180 ͒

Sausage Roll Bread

Steph's Home Cook Braided Onion Bread & Sausage Roll Bread

Sausage Bread

After learn to make crazy dough, almost every week i'll make the bread. Today i used it to make twisty sausage bread and braided sausage bread.

Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- Sausage

- Mayonnaise & Tomato sauce  ( for decorated purpose )

Instructions:

- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

- Divided the dough to small portion and roll in out.

- Put the sausage on top and roll it tight.

- Slice it in 6 line and started twist it.

- Ending squeeze mayonnaise & tomato sauce on top of it

- Put it in preheat oven baked 20 min with 180 ͒

Steph's Home Cook Sausage Bread

Pita Bread

Pita bread is common throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Most of the middle easy country housewife will know how to make it at home. Pita can be used to scoop sauces or dips, such as hummus or taramasalata, or to wrap kebabs, gyros, and falafel in the manner of sandwiches. It can also be cut and baked into crispy pita chips.

The way of cooking is similar with the Naan bread i cook before. 

Ingredient :

• - 3 tsp active dry yeast
• - 1/4 tsp sugar
• - 1 cup warm water
• - 3 cup all purpose flour
• - 1/4 cup olive oil
• - 1 tsp salt

Instruction : 

- In a large bowl, mix yeast, sugar and ¼ cup of warm water in a small bowl.

  Set aside to proof yeast, about 10 minutes, until frothy.

- Add flour, olive oil, salt and mix in about ½ cup of warm water.Slowly add in the remaining warm 

  water to make a soft and elastic dough.

- Knead by hand about 8 to 10 min until it be smooth.

- Cover the dough with the plastic and let it rise about 1 to 1 1/2 hour.

- Cut it in 8 piece and roll out each piece into round and cover with plastic , let it rise another 20  

  to 30 min.

- Graze some olive oil before cook and cook each size until tops begin to brown and pitas puff, then 

  can be served.

Steph's Home Cook Pita Bread

Naan Bread

In Gemma’s crazy dough recipe, she also transformed this dough into Naan. It so simple and delicious. I use the another half dough which i make the Nutella Bread to make the Naan.

Naan is bread which I like to eat at the Mamak restaurant. It can add different type of filling, like cheese, garlic and etc. Naan is a lovely Indian style flat-bread that is made with yogurt, rolled out to a thin oval or round shape and popped on a hot grill or in a clay oven to crisp and bubble up. Before grilling, naan can be brushed with oil or butter and topped with all kinds of seasoning.

Basically cut the dough into a small ball and roll them out with a rolling pin. Heat up the grill pan or large saute pan and pop it in the hot pan for just 3 minutes per side. Make sure to cover your Naan with a metal bowl to let the steam do the work creating lovely bubbles in your Naan. 

Ingredient:
- Crazy dough
- Olive oil ( you can use the garlic butter)

Instruction:
- Divided the Crazy-Dough into a small ball.
- Roll the ball into a oval shape with 1/8 inch thick.
- Heat up the grill pan on middle heat
- Brush the naan with olive oil and place it on the pan and quickly cover it with the metal bowl.
  It let the steam do the work creating the bubble on the Naan.
- After 3 min , carefully take out the metal bowl and brush some olive oil on top the Naan and turn it
  to another side and cook in same way
- Keep all the naan under a clean up tea towel and can be serve .

Braided Nutella Bread

Last week I used Gemma’s Crazy Dough recipe to make the cheesy bread, although is not 100% successful but I willing to try it again. Today I use the same recipe to make the Nutella Bread

Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- Nutella

Instructions:

- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

  (But this time I use only 50ml warm water to rise up the yeast.) 

- After the dough ready and rise up, transfer to the lightly floured surface.

- Cut the dough into half. (This dough can make 2 loaves) and use rolling pin roll to rectangle size.

- Spread the Nutella across the sheet with thin layer and leave about 1.5cm to 2cm from the 

   edge of the dough

- Gently roll the dough into a tight log and slice down to the center.

- Start to twist the dough as picture below and re-pinch pinch the bottom and top of the twisted log 

  together to secure the loaf

- Lift the braided loaf into the tin and wrap it and use tea towel cover it for 45 min.

- Put it in the preheat over bake about 25 mins with 190 ͒

- After baked cool it about 15 mins then can slice to served.  

Second time to rise up the dough

The way to twisted the dough.

( I didn't take picture on it, so i copy from the google to show it)

Ready to slide and serve. 

Steph's Home Cook Braided Nutella Bread

Cinnamon Bread and Cheese Ham Bread

After make the Crazy dough if didn't fully use it , it can keep in the fridge about 3 days. The previous day i just use half to make the Nutella Bread, so the balance dough i use it for the Cinnamon Bread and Cheese Ham Bread 

Cinnamon Bread Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- Cinnamon powder
- Brown Sugar
- Melt Butter
- Raisin (Optional)

Instructions:
- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

- Mix up the Cinnamon powder and the brown sugar
- Roll the dough to wide surface and apply the melt butter on top of it.
- Spread the Cinnamon mixture on top of the dough which already apply butter surface and also the raisin as well
- Start to roll it in roll type and cut it according the portion you needed.
- Put in the preheat oven baked 20 min with 180 ͒

Cheese Ham Bread Ingredient:

- Crazy dough

- Ham
- Slice Cheese

Instructions:
- Check back the Crazy-Dough page to make the dough. 

- Use roll pin roll it out
- Add the ham slice and cheese on top of it as below picture.
- Put in the preheat oven baked 20 min with 180 ͒

Ham Cheese rolling type.

Steph's Home Cook Cinnamon Bread and Cheese Ham Bread

Crazy Dough Bread

All the while i feel that making bread is so difficult job for me. But i found a recipe at youtube which published by Gemma Stafford. She teaching how to make bread and endless variations. Use one recipe dough bread to make bread loafs, pizza, naan, cinnamon roll and etc.

Ingredient :

- 1/2 cup Milk (120ml)

- 1 tsp Sugar

- 2 tsp Dry Yeast

- 3 1/2 cup All purpose flour (500g)

- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

- 1 1/2 tsp Salt

- 3/4 cup Yogurt

- 1 egg

Instruction :

- Put in the lukewarm milk, sugar and yeast and stir it well. Let stand for 15 min until the yeast

  activated.It will become foamy and start expanding.

- Take a bowl and combine the yogurt and egg together and mix it well.

- Take a big bowl add in the flour, baking powder and the salt

- Once the yeast has activated add the yeast mixture and yogurt egg mixture to the dry ingredients. 

- Using a fork stir everything together until it forms a loose, sticky dough.If the dough is too dry, 

   add a little bit of milk or water. If it is too soft, add just a little bit of flour.

- Once all the ingredients are combined gently,fold the dough together until it forms a rough ball.

- Cover the dough tightly with wrap and tea towel and place in a warm leave for 2 hours.

- Once the dough has risen it should be about double in size. 

- From here you can take this crazy all purpose dough and make it into any of the following things!

You can use this dough to make different type of loaf , pizza,  naan bread, savory stuffed roll, classic cinnamon rolls, pretzels, jalapeno and cheese stuffed dinner rolls, and braided Nutella loaf.

***Keep it in your fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze it***

The first loaf which i make by using this dough is Cheesy loaf. ( Just following which Gemma bake one)
- Add in the Shredded cheese and Gently knead ⅔ of the grated cheese into the dough until
  evenly distributed.
- Transfer the dough to the bake-ware and cover with wrap and a tea towel
- Then set the loaf tin aside in a warm spot to proof for a second time.
- This should take 45 minutes to an hour.
- Put it in the preheat oven bake 40 to 45 min.
- Remove from oven and wait 10 min then only start slicing.

Steph's Home Cook Crazy Dough Bread