Who We Are

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Sitting On The Porch

Tail wags, pups and kit-cats! It's me - Stormy! Mom took Dave and me outside yesterday evening to take a picture of us together. She wanted a nice shot of the two of us sitting side by side on the porch, looking at the camera. Want to see the picture? Here you go:

Dave and me

Oh, yeah. Well, neither of us are looking at the camera, he's sitting, I'm not, and we refused to go on the porch. Just ... because. This is the best Mom could come up with. Ha roo roo roo! She thought I could do a post of some "nice" pix of Dave and me today, but hey. I'm in charge and I had other plans for today's blog post. So Dave and I decided not to give her the shots she wanted. I love having fun with Mom like that.

So anyway, this next photo is for our buddy Ben. He wasn't sure what ramen was when Zimmie posted the cabbage salad recipe the other day.

It's Asian-style noodles, and lots of them, that you can cook up and put in a nice soup. Or use them crunchy in the salad! They're also great right off the floor when your mom is breaking them up. YUM!

Now... about those buns!

Gus, Louie and Callie wondered if we'd share the recipe for the buns. I don't see why not. I mean, it's not like I'm giving out a secret recipe or anything. Zim. Here you go, pups!

MOOMIE'S BUNS – The Ao4's Mom's
Way

This is our mom's adaptation of a recipe from Moomie, a member of King Arthur Flour's message board. It’s also in one of the KA cookbooks – Baker’s Companion – as “Beautiful Burger Buns”.

Make these in your bread machine or your mixer. Mom uses her bread machine!

1 cup warm water (100-105 deg.)
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
3 1/4 cups King Arthur's all-purpose flour (Mom only uses King Arthur; she says it yields more consistent results. All-purpose flour is the "plain" kind.)
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons instant yeast

Optional – this is Mom's special mix, and the reason we can't have any of the buns:
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons minced onion
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Bread Machine Method: Place ingredients into bread machine in the order listed. Let the machine run its complete “dough” cycle. Take your pup or pups for a nice, long walk during this time. Really. It's part of the recipe.

Turn out onto floured surface and knead by hand 1-2 minutes until dough feels "right". Mom says she usually doesn’t have to do this – it depends on how humid it is the day she bakes.

Divide the dough into 8 or 10 pieces to form into burger buns. (Or 6 burger buns and 4 hot dog buns. Or 9 burger buns. Or 8 hot dog buns and 3 burger buns. Or ... Play around with it and see what size you like. They also make splendid rolls, just make them small - at least 16.)

On the message board, Moomie said to “Slap the dough 4-5 times into bun shape” – this led to an interesting discussion about “Do you have to slap it; can’t you just give it a time out?” Ha roo roo roo; good one! Put buns on a lightly oiled cookie sheet (Mom sprays with non-stick spray) and let rise, covered, about 30-40 minutes. (Mom sprays plastic wrap with non-stick spray and covers the buns with that.) This is a good time to take your pup or pups for another walk. Do it. Now!

Bake in 375-degree oven 12-15 minutes or until golden. (Watch them; they go fast!)

Manual/Mixer Method: In a mixing bowl, place flour, sugar, yeast, spices if used, and salt; mix well with paddle attachment of mixer. Add egg and melted butter; begin mixing on low with paddle attachment. Gradually add water; mix dough until well-combined. If kneading by hand, turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead about 15 minutes or until smooth and elastic (dough should still be quite soft). If kneading by mixer, change to dough hook and knead 3-4 minutes, adding flour or warm water as needed, until dough is soft, smooth and elastic. Place dough into an oiled bowl; cover with plastic wrap and set aside until doubled in size. Then form into buns as above. (Now you know why Mom uses the bread machine.)

These freeze very well after baking!!! You can also sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds before baking.

Warning: You won’t want to go back to store-bought buns after this!
I hope you like the recipe. Mom and Dad just love these buns. If you give it a go, let us know!

Have a great day, everypup, and remember - you're in charge. If you don't want to pose for pix ... see above.

Tail wags,
Storm

17 comments:

  1. Sounds yummy! My mom says she's never heard of King Arthur flour. Do they have it at the grocery store?

    Kat

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  2. YES!

    We are in khontrol!!

    Sibes RULE...humans drool!!!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  3. Hey! I like your Mom's recipes better than my Mom's. I think my Mom's beein skipping a very important part of the process - the walk!
    ECHO

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  4. w00f's A04, heehee mama wood haff to use the manual way, the only manual thingy her does iz click the mousie,,,shhhhh dont tell her me tolded u dat...the buns make me drool..

    b safe,
    ~rocky~

    pps, pawsome job on the picksur takin...

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  5. Oh I LOVE that photo! I need to make Mum post some of my unco-operative shots.. she has albums full hehehe

    Thank you for the shot of the Ramen Noodle.. all is now clear, we do indeed have those here, they are called Super Noodles, Mum has never even tried them so we will be buying some tomorrow and trying out that recipe!
    Mum says she couldn't live without her Bread machine (a little overly dramatic i think!!) and she agrees that you don't go back to shop bought once you start baking your own! Ours has a timer so you can wake up to fresh bread Mmmmmm

    love and tailwags,
    Ben xxxx

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  6. Mmmmmmm, baking. Mommy's been baking up a storm (with a little s, but the good kind of little s storm, not the bad kind) all summer, but especially now because she worked in the farmer's market nd got cheap berries. Now that she's not working and has time and that it's APPLE season, she's spending most of her time in the kitchen. With me on KP, awaiting my payment in butter. Do you get paid in butter? My mommy's stingy on payment, I think I have to lobby for better working conditions.
    Woos,
    Louka

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  7. Hi, friends!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe!
    We don't have King Arthur flour here but I guess my grandma can try with the one we can get here.
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  8. Great pic!! The best ones are when you DON'T do what the humans want you to do!!

    Wow, those buns look sooo yummy!! I wish my mom would bake!

    Holly

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  9. Great pic!! The best ones are when you DON'T do what the humans want you to do!!

    Wow, those buns look sooo yummy!! I wish my mom would bake!

    Holly

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  10. Oh my hooman loves to eat instant noodles like that one
    What flavours do your hoomans like?

    ~ Girl girl

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  11. Woof Pups,

    Yummy! That sure does look delicious. Mom was reading the recipe and she got confused with the 1 cup of warm water(she doesn't cook much). Anyway hope all is well with you.

    Desert Pups

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  12. WOO WOO Stormy and Dave
    Good Job messing with your Mom and we love the recipes! Keep them coming!

    Hugs

    Thor and Marco Polo

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  13. Mum says she's craving ramen now... BOL... did you know ramen noodles in some areas of the country are called SMACK?!?! You believe that?! BOL, we think it's funny...

    Love you pups!!!
    ;o)
    M & I

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  14. COOL! We were going to ask for the recipe, too!
    Thanks for sharing!!
    Kaos

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  15. Our Mom got that recipe from your Mom and she still hasn't made them - sheesh, it's not like she doesn't have time or anything!

    Nice posing, we've been working on that great skill too. Great to be back to say hello, we haven't had much 'puter time lately.

    Woos, the OP Pack

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  16. There isn't anyone in our house that doesn't LOVE fresh baked bread or buns! Thank you for the recipe!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

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  17. They look deeelish! Sadly, we have about given up on our Mom cooking. Apparently she only cooks a couple of times a year on major holidays. Sheesh. Can we come live there??
    Hugs
    Sunny&Scooter
    pee ess Howdy Dave!!!mmmmuuuuaahh on your nose.

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