Mini Poppy Seed Loaves Food

BLUEBERRY-POPPY SEED LOAVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush 4 mini loaf pans (about 5 by 3 inches each) with vegetable oil. Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Beat the milk, 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil, the eggs, poppy seeds, and almond and vanilla extracts in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until combined. Gradually beat in the flour mixture until well combined. Fold the blueberries into the batter with a rubber spatula.
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour, 10 minutes. Transfer the pans to a rack and let cool about 10 minutes, then remove the cakes to the rack to cool completely.

POPPY SEED LOAF

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat together milk, sugar, shortening, and salt until warm.
• Combine 2 cups of the flour and the yeast in a large mixing bowl. Stir in warm milk mixture. Add 3 eggs; beat with an electric mixer at low speed for 1/2 min, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat for 3 minutes at high speed. Stir in as much of remaining flour as you can. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in remaining flour to make a stiff dough, and continue kneading for 6 to 8 minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, and turn once to grease surface. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled.
• Meanwhile, pour boiling water over poppy seeds; let stand 30 minutes. Drain thoroughly, and place in a blender. Grind. In a small bowl, blend together ground poppy seeds, chopped nuts, honey, and lemon zest. Beat 1 egg white until stiff, and fold into poppy seed mixture.
• Punch down dough, and divide in half. Cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough into 24 x 8 inch rectangle. Spread with half the poppy seed mixture. Roll up jelly roll style, starting with the narrow edge. Seal the edge. Place seam side down, in a greased 8 x 4 inch loaf pan. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Cover. Let rise for 30 to 45 minutes, or until doubled.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

CHOCOLATE MINI-LOAVES

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously spray the inside of a mini-loaf baking pan with the cooking spray and set aside.
• Put the butter, coffee, cocoa and milk in a small microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high until the butter melts, about 3 minutes. Whisk to combine.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, chile powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat the sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a small bowl. Whisk the hot cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients; stir in the sour cream mixture, until just combined. Divide the batter equally among the loaves, filling each about ¾ of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Allow the loaves to cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around each loaf to loosen, remove the loaves and let cool completely on a rack.
• To serve, dust the tops of the loaves with confectioners' sugar. If you like, cut out small hearts or other festive stencils and place them on the loaves before dusting.

VEGAN LEMON POPPY SEED MINI MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick spray, set aside.
• Combine the poppy seeds and soymilk in a small bowl. Set aside, stirring occasionally.
• Grate the lemons, obtaining 2 tbsp lemon zest. I highly recommend the Microplane Zester/Grater. It is worth the price and makes zesting a breeze. I suspect it will last a few lifetimes (at least).
• Make a "flax egg" by mixing the flaxseed meal with 6 tablesppons (1/4 cup PLUS 2 tbsp) hot water in a small bowl. Set aside, stirring occasionally.
• Whisk together the flours, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, set aside.
• In a small bowl combine the lemon zest and sugar. Rub together, with your hands, until they are evenly mixed.
• In a large bowl combine the lemon-zest sugar, oil, applesauce, lemon juice, "flax egg" and the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix well.
• Add the flour mixture and the soymilk/poppy seed mixture in alternating batches, stirring after each addition (or, if using an electric mixer, add in alternating batches as the mixer is running). Do not over mix.
• Add dough to the mini muffin pan using a tablespoon (1 tbsp = 1 mini muffin).
• Bake 10-11 minutes, let cool in pan for two minutes and move to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For regular sized muffins, bake 18-25 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean (I haven't tried this yet; the time is approximate and my best guess).
• For a 9x5 loaf, bake 50-70 minutes until a tester comes out clean (I haven't tried this yet; the time is approximate and my best guess).
• OPTIONAL GLAZE: In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the glaze on the muffins. There should be left over glaze. Let the muffins cool completely and store in an airtight container.

ONION-POPPY SEED LOAF

Steps:

• Measure ingredients carefully, placing all ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Select Basic/White cycle.
• Use Medium or Light crust colour.
• Remove baked bread from pan and cool on wire rack.