Light As Air Buns Recipes

MOM'S AIR BUNS (ROLLS)

Steps:

• Mix the 1/2 cup warm water, yeast, and 1 tsp sugar, and allow to proof.
• Melt the lard, and mix in sugar, salt, vinegar, and warm water. When body warm, add the proofed yeast, and beat in 1 1/2 cups flour. Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead in approximately 3 cups more flour.
• Let dough rise till double (approximately 2 hours).
• Deflate dough, and form into buns, any size, (I make 16 large) or loaves. Rise till double (takes approximately one hour, but depends on size/shape chosen).
• Bake buns at 350°F for approximately 20 minutes.
• For ABM, in my machine, on the "dough" cycle, I use 2 teaspoons of bread machine yeast, and I reduce the water to about 1 1/2 cups, the flour to 4 cups, adding a tad more water or flour as it kneads to get a smooth,soft ball of dough. I leave the other ingredients as posted.

LIGHT AS AIR BUNS

Steps:

• 1. Soften yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water, in which 1 tsp sugar has been dissolved. Let stand about 10 minutes.. Put the 3 1/2 cups lukewarm water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup lard or shortening and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
• 2. Add yeast and vinegar, then 1 cup of flour at a time until enough flour has been added to the dough so that it does not stick to the hands. Let rise in warm place for 2 hours. Knead down and rise again for an hour.
• 3. Shape into rolls and let rise again for 1 hour. Bake in 400F oven for 15-20 min. Brush with melted butter when done.

MOM'S 100% WHOLE GRAIN AIR BUNS (ROLLS) (KNEAD DOUGH IN THE ABM)

Steps:

• Put egg in a 2 cup measure, whisk, and add enough warm water to come up to the 1 1/2 cup line.
• Put this water/egg mixture, oil, honey, salt, vinegar, oats and seeds, in the bucket of the bread machine.
• Sprinkle the powdered milk on top.
• In the bottom of a one cup measure, put 2 tablespoons of gluten, and then fill the cup with whole wheat bread flour.
• Put that, and another 3 cups of flour on top of the liquids.
• Add yeast to surface, and programme for "dough" cycle.
• You may need to add an additional tablespoon or two of water to give a smooth slightly sticky dough when the machine begins to knead.
• I make either 2 9" round cake pans of rolls, each with 8 rolls per pan, or one pan of rolls, and form the other half of the dough into a rounded loaf, and let both rise till double (the rolls will fill the pans).
• Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes for the rolls, and approximately 25 minutes for the loaf. The rolls will be deeply golden brown, and oh so yummy!

SUPER SIMPLE AIR BUNS

Steps:

• 1. In a large metal bowl combine water (this water should be tap hot, NOT BOILED if it's too hot you'll kill the yeast, if it's too cool it won't activate), sugar, salt and Vegetable Shortening. Stir until shortening has almost completely dissolved or is in very small lumps.
• 2. Sprinkle four cups of flour across the top of the liquid mixture creating a "blanket" effect (this is important) sprinkle on yeast.
• 3. Working quickly whisk in the yeast and flour to mixture, then switch to a wooden spoon and stir in another 2 cups of flour.
• 4. From this point forward your flour amounts will vary. Due to weather, climate, altitude etc the dough will continue to accept any where from another 1 to 2 and half cups of flour.
• 5. Knead in as much flour as the dough will accept until it is no longer sticky and feels smooth on the exterior. This takes usually about 15 minutes of good kneading and you'll be surprised at how much flour the dough will take.
• 6. Wash out metal bowl with hot water and dry thoroughly (do this quickly as you want the bowl to stay warm), place dough in bowl and cover with a clean tea towl.
• 7. Let rise 1 hour.
• 8. Punch down dough and let rise another 30 minute.
• 9. Shape dough into balls (this can vary based on desired finish product bun size. eg golf ball dough will rise and bake to about a small dinner roll size. I usually make them about the size of a small clementine for larger lunch size buns) and place on a greased cookie sheet.
• 10. Pre Heat Oven to 400 degrees. Cover and let rise another 1 hour, they will have doubled in size by then.
• 11. Bake in 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. You'll know buns are done by their golden color.
• 12. If you'd like a super soft exterior to these buns rub with a small amount of butter or margarine immediately after removing from the oven. This isn't necessary and the buns are excellent without this step.

AIRBUNS (HOMEMADE ROLLS)

Steps:

• Bowl #1 - 1 package of RapidRise yeast 1 tsp. sugar 1 c. WARM water Let this sit while you mix Bowl #2
• Bowl #2 - 2 c. sugar 1 c. melted shortening (I use the Crisco sticks) 3 rounded tsp. salt
• Bowl #3 - 5 c. WARM water 4 eggs (beaten)
• Bowl #4 - Put 10 cups of flour in a HUGE bowl (16 inch diameter, 13 quart). Add bowls #1-#3 (mixed together) to the 10 cups of flour
• Stir or mix with a mixer. You will only be able to use the mixer for a short time. Gradually add 7-9 cups of flour. The amount depends on atmosphere. You want the dough to be doughy, but not so sticky that it stays on your hands. Knead for 10-15 minutes. Begin to rise at around 4pm (give or take a little). I preheat my oven and then turn it off. I put a light beach towel over the bowl of dough in the oven with the door open. If the dough seems to be rising slowly, repeat pre-heating the oven and turning off to keep the dough warm. Punch out the air 2 hours after it starts rising and then 2-3 more times at one hour increments. I use the Crisco to cover my hands when punching down the dough. I also use Crisco to grease the pans. During the last "punch" time, it's time to put on the pans. As you grab a small pinch of dough, roll and smooth it before placing on the baking sheet. I can fit 12 on each baking sheet. I use disposable cookie sheets (16x11), but I wash these off and use them each year. The rolls seem to evenly bake on these better than anything else I've tried. Cover the rolls with light kitchen towels and make sure that the room is warm. If the room is too chilly, you can use a small space heater nearby to keep things warm. This is absolutely necessary for proper rising. Bake the next morning at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Smear the tops with butter when they come out of the oven. Makes about 75-100 buns.

AIR BUNS

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients and let proof for 10 minutes.
• Mix next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add yeast mixture to sugar-oil-water mixture.
• Mix in 8-10 cups of flour or enough to make a nice soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands.
• Put dough in a well greased container and let rise in a warm place.
• Knead down once and let rise again.
• Form into small balls (about 2" diameter or so) and place on a cookie sheet.
• Let rise again until light and fluffy.
• Bake in preheated oven 400F for 10-15 minutes.

MOM'S 'FEATHER BUNS'

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in first amount of warm water until foamy.
• Add yeast mixture to rest of ingredients except flour.
• Add flour in batches, stirring well in between.
• Knead until dough becomes elastic yet pliable.
• Let rise for 2 hours.
• Knead again and let rise for one hour.
• Punch down dough and shape into egg sized portions and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Cover and let rise for 3 hours.
• Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes until tops browned.