Gruyere And Walnut Biscuits Food

GRUYERE AND WALNUT BREAD

Steps:

• Butter or grease two loaf pans.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and pepper (if using); set aside.
• Stir the butter into the scalded milk; let cool to room temperature.
• Once the milk has cooled you can begin to make the dough by pouring the water into the bowl of your stand mixer.
• Whisk in yeast, wait a minute, then whisk again to be sure all the yeast is completely dissolved; whisk in the cooled milk and butter mixture.
• Stir in half the flour with a large rubber spatula, then stir in the remaining flour, in smaller batches, to ensure all the flour is moistened.
• Place the bowl on the stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook, and beat on medium speed until the dough gets smoother, but not competely smooth, about 2 minutes; let rest 10 minutes.
• Add the cheese and nuts then beat, on medium speed, until the dough becomes smoother and more elastic, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly oil bowl to rise, turning to coat all sides with oil; drape oiled plastic wrap on top and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured work area, turn over, press to deflate, then set aside (in oiled bowl) to rise again, about 1 hour.
• Turn dough out onto floured board and divide in half, taking care not to delate dough too much; shape each half into an 8 to 9 inch square.
• Roll dough tightly, jelly roll fashion, pinching the edge in when you get to the end; place loaf in pan, seam side down, pressing it into place so that the surface is fairly even.
• Cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise another hour; once risen, the dough should protrude about 1 inch over the rim of the loaf pan.
• Set oven rack to the middle and heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Uncover loaves, and place in the center of the oven rack, short side toward each other, equal distance from each other and the sides of the oven.
• Bake until the bread is risen, and is deep golden and firm; the internal temperature should be more than 200 degrees F, about 45 minutes.
• Unmold each loaf and cool, on its side, on a rack (this prevents falling).
• You can brush the breads with melted butter if you like your crusts soft.
• Let cool completely before slicing with a sharp serrated knife.
• Store at room temperature, in a plastic bag, or freeze for longer storage.

FAVOURITE DATE & WALNUT BISCUITS

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugars. Add vanilla and egg.
• Sift in the flour and salt.
• Add the dates and walnuts, combine well.
• Roll into walnut sized balls and place on lined baking tray. Press down a little.
• Bake in moderate oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on wire rack then hide them from children and unexpected guests!

HERB-GRUYERE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F and position a rack in the lower third of the oven.
• In a large shallow bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and fine salt.
• Add the chilled butter and use a pastry blender or 2 knives to cut the butter into the flour until it is the size of peas.
• Add the chopped thyme and sage, and the Gruyere.
• Stir in the buttermilk just until the dough is moistened.
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour.
• Turn the dough out onto the surface and knead 2 or 3 times, just until it comes together.
• Pat the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick disk.
• Using a floured 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter, stamp out biscuit rounds as closely together as possible.
• Gather the scraps and knead them together 2 or 3 times, then flatten the dough and stamp out more biscuit rounds.
• Pat the remaining scraps together and gently press them into a biscuit.
• Transfer the biscuits to a large baking sheet and brush the tops with the melted butter.
• Lightly sprinkle the biscuits with a few grains of flaky salt and chill until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Bake the biscuits for 20 minutes, or until golden.
• Let the biscuits cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving.