Confession of an Amateur Bread Maker

Haa..haa....the topic does sounds heavy! Heavy as the bread...no, just kidding!

My first time ever baking bread. I've done cookies and cakes, but first time in bread making.

Somehow its not as hard as I woul have imagined. It is much simpler than a cake, provided you get over all the jargon ingredients like high protein flour, shortening, and yeast.

Officiating the new mixer!

The buns before it doubles in size.

In the hot oven.

Hot from the stove, and a spread of butter topping.

The finished product

ROTI NAIK / Buns
Source: MamaFami Blog

Ingredients :

700g high protein flour
50g shortening
200g lukewarm water
200g evaporated milk/fresh milk
100g castor sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 packet instant yeast (11g)
2 nos egga bit of margarine

Method :
1. Sift flour into a mixing bowl. Add in yeast, sugar, salt and eggs. On the mixer.
2. Pour in evaporated milk and lukewarm water a bit at a time until just mixed.
3. Add in the shortening and continue kneading till a soft and smooth dough is formed. Add more water if needed.
4. Make into one round ball and leave to prove till double the size.
5. Punch down the dough to release air and make into small balls. Arrange in a greased pan and let it prove again till double the size.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 20 to 30 minutes.
7. Once out of the oven, brush the top with margarine. Serve with curry or serikaya or jam or whatever to your likings.

Verdict:

I think my bread has like 85-90% success rate.
Nothing wrong with the recipe. Its a tested and proven recipe. What I didn't do right:
1.Its not as fluffy as it should be. Maybe because it did not let the dough in the mixer long enough. Hey...this is my first time! Later I discovered you need to knead for about 9-10 minutes.
2. I missed out the salt as I was distracted when measuring the amounts of various ingredients. ..haha
3. Infact, I added the shortening earlier with other ingredients, and upon realising my mistake, took it out with all the flour and yeast stuck to it...hahaha. Then put it back again later.
4. I was a bit panicked when I saw the bread browning faster than I thought it should be. So I meddled with the temperature and the heat distribution of the oven. I even opened the oven door to take a peek or two. Once, I took the tray out and put it in back. Lol!

Overall, its ok, a bit crusty on the top, but inside is soft, but still not feathery as I'd like it to be. No worries. This morning we had this as breakfast with butter and kaya. Later I'll fix some chicken curry for tea.

I am so proud of myself...haha...! And it'll be better the next time... Cheers! :)