Alligator Animal Italian Bread Food

ALLIGATOR BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• For the head: Cut off about a quarter (8 ounces) of the dough and form into a teardrop shape, pulling the narrower end out to form a long snout. Set aside.
• For the eyes and legs: Cut off another quarter (8 ounces) of the dough. Divide the rest of this piece of dough into 2 logs each about 9-inches-long. Lay the logs crosswise in the middle of the prepared baking sheet with about 3-inches in between.
• For the body and tail: Form an 11-inch-long log with the remaining dough (1 pound) with one end thicker than the other. Place the log on top of the legs (the dough for the legs should peek out from under the body). Pull the narrow end to a point and curve to the side to make a tail. Butt the head up against the thicker part of the body. Curve the legs forward slightly.
• Spray the alligator with cooking spray, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until puffed, about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Beat together the milk, egg and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Brush the dough all over with the egg wash. Cut two small slits in the face on either side and press in dried cherries for eyes.
• With scissors, snip (without going all the way through) 4 small cuts in the front of the alligator's feet to make claws. Make 1-inch snips in horizontal rows all down the back of the alligator for scales. Press 2 toothpicks in the front of the snout (and leave them in during baking) to make the alligator's nostrils.
• Bake until the alligator has risen and is golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack. Remove the toothpicks.
• While the alligator is still hot, use a serrated knife to slice open the head, crosswise, to make a mouth and gently pull it open. Insert slivered almonds in the top and bottom to make rows or jagged and crooked teeth. Insert a slivered almond in each nostril hole. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ALLIGATOR ANIMAL ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the water, flour, gluten (if using), salt, and yeast in your bread machine and mix using the machine's dough cycle. The dough should pull away from the sides nicely; add more flour or water if necessary during the mixing cycle so the dough doesn't end up too sticky or dry. When the first rising cycle ends, punch the dough down and transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface.
• Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Roll out the dough into a square about 3/4-inch thick and divide it into four pieces. Roll up three of the pieces jelly-roll style, and line them up seam-side down on the baking sheet to form the head, body, and tail. The ends of the connected pieces should just slightly touch. (Remember that everything will get bigger as the dough rises, so try to keep proportions in mind.)
• Lightly grease your hands and shape the dough like you're working with clay: elongate the tail to a slender curved tip, and then slightly elongate the nose end. Slice into the nose horizontally at the tip to form the alligator's mouth; hold the mouth open with a wedge of greased aluminum foil.
• From the remaining quarter of dough, trim off a tiny piece to use for the eyes. Slice the remainder into four "logs" for legs, flattening one end of each leg and inserting it under the alligator's body. Shape the legs into slight bends when positioning them on the baking sheet. Cut short slices into the other end of the leg to make claws. Use scissors to snip shallow cuts over the surface of the dough (this will form the alligator's spiky skin). Roll the reserved dough into little balls for the eyes, stuffing each with a raisin.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of warm water in a small bowl.
• Let the alligator rise in a warm place until fully proofed, about thirty minutes (poke your index and middle fingers into the sides of the dough; the indentation should remain. If the dough springs back, it needs to rise longer). Gently brush the dough with the egg wash and bake it in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the alligator from the baking sheet with a spatula and transfer it to a wire rack. Remove the aluminum foil when cool.