English Muffin Food

ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast on one side of the flour and the salt into the other side of the flour. Add the sugar, butter, egg and milk, then mix all the ingredients together to form a soft dough.
• Turn the mixture out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, or until soft, smooth and stretchy.
• Lightly grease a large bowl with oil. Place the dough in the oiled bowl, cover and leave to prove for about one hour, or until doubled in size.
• Dust the work surface with a mixture of the semolina/polenta and flour. Tip the dough out onto the work surface and roll out to about 2.5cm thick.
• Lightly dust two baking trays with half of the semolina or polenta.
• Using a 9cm/3½oz straight-sided cutter, cut out eight muffins. Place four muffins, evenly spaced apart on each of the dusted baking trays. Dust the remaining semolina or polenta over the top of the muffins.
• Leave to prove for another 30 minutes.
• Preheat the hot plate or a heavy-based frying pan on the hob to a very low heat. Griddle the muffins for approximately 5-6 minutes, then flip over and griddle for another 5-6 minutes on the other side.

ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• In a bowl combine the powdered milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, shortening, and hot water, stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Let cool. In a separate bowl combine the yeast and 1/8 teaspoon of sugar in 1/3 cup of warm water and rest until yeast has dissolved. Add this to the dry milk mixture. Add the sifted flour and beat thoroughly with wooden spoon. Cover the bowl and let it rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the griddle to 300 degrees F.
• Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt to mixture and beat thoroughly. Place metal rings onto the griddle and coat lightly with vegetable spray. Using #20 ice cream scoop, place 2 scoops into each ring and cover with a pot lid or cookie sheet and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the lid and flip rings using tongs. Cover with the lid and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a cooling rack, remove rings and cool. Split with fork and serve.

ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Make the dough.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the egg but don't stir it in yet.
• Heat the milk and coconut oil in a saucepan until a thermometer reads 110 degrees F. (If the milk is too hot when you add it to the flour mixture, it will kill the yeast.)
• Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Avoid pouring it directly on the egg-you don't want the hot milk to cook it.
• Using the dough hook, mix on medium speed until the dough comes together and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, if needed. The dough will look a little irregular in texture.
• Knead the dough.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, soft and elastic, 3 to 4 minutes. Shape into a ball and place in a large bowl lightly oiled with coconut oil; rub the top of the dough with a little more coconut oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• Form the muffins.
• Sprinkle 2 baking sheets with cornmeal and set aside. After the dough rises, punch it down and divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a 3-inch disk. Place the disks on the baking sheets.
• Cook the muffins.
• Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Coat the skillet with cooking spray and liberally sprinkle with cornmeal. Working in batches, cook the muffins until they are deep golden brown, 5 to 9 minutes per side. If they start to rise in a domed fashion, flatten them with a spatula. Let the English muffins cool completely, then split open, toast and serve with butter and jam.

ENGLISH MUFFIN JAM ROLLS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together. Add the water and yogurt. Using a rubber spatula, give it a mix to just combine. Place the bowl on the stand mixer and mix with the dough hook on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl and hook as necessary. The dough will be soft and smooth, but sticky, and will pull away from the sides of the bowl when it has mixed long enough, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a large, oiled bowl, cover with plastic, and allow to rise at room temperature until doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with the butter and dust all over with the cornmeal, tapping out any excess.
• On a cornmeal-dusted surface, roll out the dough to a rectangle that is roughly 20-by-10-inches and just under 1/2-inch-thick. With a small, offset spatula, spread 1 side with an even layer of strawberry jam, leaving a 1/2-inch border at the top. Repeat with the blueberry jam on the other side. Roll up into a tight log and pinch the edges to seal. With a sharp knife, slice into 12 even rolls. Place alternating rolls in the prepared baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight (anywhere from 8 to 12 hours is fine; try not to exceed 14 to 16 hours) or let rise at room temperature for another until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• When ready to bake, remove the rolls from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for an hour (unless they proofed at room temperature). Remove the plastic wrap, brush the tops with the egg wash. Bake until the rolls are a deep golden brown and the top feels hollow when you tap on it, start checking at 25 minutes.
• While the rolls are baking, prepare the Glaze (recipe follows).
• Remove the rolls from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Drizzle over the glaze and serve. These can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for a day or so (reheat in the microwave).
• Combine the powdered sugar, yogurt and salt in a bowl and whisk until smooth.

ENGLISH MUFFIN PIZZAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots, peppers and zucchini and cook, stirring, until softened, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Continue to cook, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Add 1 cup water to the empty tomato can and pour into the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the vegetables are very soft, the sauce has thickened slightly and the rawness from the canned tomatoes has mellowed, about 20 minutes. Puree the vegetables with a hand blender or transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, holding down the lid with a kitchen towel to prevent the hot sauce from spraying. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed and cool. You will have about 5 cups of sauce.
• While the sauce simmers, lay the English muffin halves in a single layer on a baking sheet and lightly toast in a toaster oven set to broil or under an oven broiler, 2 to 3 minutes. Spread the top of each muffin with 1 to 2 tablespoons of sauce. Combine the 2 cheeses and sprinkle over the sauce. To serve as a snack right away, add your desired toppings and place the assembled pizzas under the broiler in the oven or toaster oven until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To make ahead: Place the entire tray of mini pizzas in the freezer and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Stack in a plastic freezer bag until ready to eat. To reheat, place the frozen pizzas on a piece of heavy-duty foil, add any toppings you like and bake in a toaster oven at 400 degrees F until golden, hot and the cheese is melted, 13 to 15 minutes.

ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture, shortening and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. Knead. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise.
• Punch down. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut rounds with biscuit cutter, drinking glass, or empty tuna can. Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and set the rounds on this to rise. Dust tops of muffins with cornmeal also. Cover and let rise 1/2 hour.
• Heat greased griddle. Cook muffins on griddle about 10 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep baked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. Allow to cool and place in plastic bags for storage. To use, split and toast. Great with orange butter, or cream cheese and jam.

ENGLISH MUFFIN PIZZAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Split open the whole english muffins and arrange the 12 halves onto a baking sheet.
• Spread 1-2 spoonfuls of spaghetti sauce onto muffin halves - do not use too much or it will make the muffin bottoms soggy.
• Sprinkle muffins with shredded cheese.
• Arrange 2-3 pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
• Put muffins in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and muffins are toasted.
• ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS: Green peppers, onions, olives, ham, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, peppers, salami, artichoke hearts, tuna, breakfast toppings (i.e. eggs, ham) etc. - Let your imagination run wild!
• MY FAVORITE: sauce, cheese, artichoke hearts, capers, salami (cut up into pieces) and dried italian herbs - AWESOME!

EASY ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Place 1/4 cup flour, yeast, and 1/2 cup water in a mixing bowl. Whisk together and set aside for about 10 minutes to see if thin layer of foam develops to ensure yeast is active. Drizzle in vegetable oil; add salt, egg white, remaining 1 3/4 cup flour, and remaining 1/4 cup warm water. Mix together until dough is very wet and sticky. Cover. Set in a warm spot and let rise until doubled, about 2 hours.
• Pull dough gently from sides of bowl, stirring slightly, and turn out onto a well-floured rolling surface. Work in just enough flour until dough is easily handled and can be cut into 6 pieces, about 1 minute. Cut dough into 6 equal portions. Form a seamless ball of dough, adding a pinch of flour to keep it from sticking. Flatten to make thick disks. Transfer dough onto a lined baking sheet sprinkled generously with cornmeal. Let rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Add clarified butter to skillet over medium heat. Carefully transfer muffin disks to skillet. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Brown on one side, 5 or 6 minutes. Turn, and brown the other side, 5 or 6 minutes. Continue turning to get muffins evenly browned and cooked through, 7 or 8 minutes total per side. Transfer to a cooking rack and cool completely (this is key as you can't split the muffins unless they are cooled).
• Split cooled muffins with a fork, inserting tines all the way around edges so the 2 sides can be pulled apart. Toast and serve with jam.

ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let it cool until it's lukewarm.
• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture, butter and 1/2 of the flour. Beat until smooth. Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. Knead. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise.
• Knock back. Roll out to about 1/2 cm thick. Cut rounds with a plain cutter or glass. Sprinkle a baking tray or greaseproof paper with polenta and put the rounds on this to rise. Dust the tops of muffins with polenta also. Cover and rise 30 minutes.
• Heat a greased heavy frying pan or griddle. Cook muffins on griddle about 10 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep baked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. To use, split and toast.

ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and leave in a warm place.
• Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm milk.
• Let froth, then mix in the butter.
• Stir all the liquid into the warm flour and beat well until smooth and elastic.
• Cover and proof in a warm place for 50 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
• Turn onto a well-floured board and knead, working a little more flour if necessary to make the dough easier to shape.
• Round up the dough, roll into a thick sausage shape and slice into 8 to 10 portions, each about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch thick.
• Shape each one into a round with straight sides.
• Put onto a greased baking sheet.
• Cover (use greased plastic wrap) and put in a warm place to proof for 30-40 minutes or until springy to the touch.
• Leave room for expansion and be careful not to over-proof, as the muffins will get flabby and lose their shape.
• Warm and grease the bakestone lightly.
• Lift the muffins carefully onto the bakestone and cook over very moderate heat (about 350-degrees) for 8-10 minutes until pale gold underneath.
• Turn and cook the other side.
• Wrap in a cloth and keep warm if cooking in batches.
• To serve, insert a knife in the side, pull the top and bottom slightly apart, and insert slivers of butter.
• Apple butter ain't bad either.
• Enjoy.

ENGLISH MUFFIN BREAD

Steps:

• Combine flour, yeast, sugar, salt and soda in a large bowl.
• Heat together milk and water until very warm (120 - 130 degrees). Add dry ingredients and beat well.
• Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter.
• spoon into 2 loaf pans that have been greased and sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Sprinkle cornmeal on top.
• Cover and let stand in warm place for 45 minutes.
• Bake at 400 for 25 minutes.