Sesame Sunflower Poppy Seed Bloomer Food

SESAME, SUNFLOWER & POPPY SEED BLOOMER

Steps:

• Mix the flour, yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl. Put in the butter and rub it into the flour. Mix in the seeds. Make a dip in the centre of the flour and pour in almost 300ml hand warm (cool rather than hot) water, with a round-bladed knife. Then mix in enough of the remaining water and a bit more if needed, to gather up any dry bits in the bottom of the bowl, until the mixture comes together as a soft, not too sticky, dough. Gather it into a ball with your hands.
• Put the dough onto a very lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 mins until it feels smooth and elastic, only adding the minimum of extra flour if necessary to prevent the dough sticking. Place the ball of dough on a lightly floured work surface. Cover with an upturned, clean, large glass bowl and leave for 45 mins-1 hr or until doubled in size and feels light and springy. Timing will depend on the warmth of the room.
• Knock back the dough by gently kneading just 3-4 times. You only want to knock out any large air bubbles, so too much handling now will lose the dough's lightness. Shape into a ball, then cover and leave for 10 mins.
• Shape by flattening the dough into a rectangle about 25 x 19cm using your knuckles. Fold both shorter ends into the centre like an envelope, make a ¼ turn, then flatten again into the same size and roll up very tightly, starting from one of the short ends. Seal both ends by pressing down firmly with the side of your hand. Lay the loaf on a baking parchment-lined baking sheet with the join underneath. Using a very sharp knife, make 7-8 diagonal slashes down the length of the loaf, deep enough to open up slightly. Cover and leave for 40-45 mins, or until about doubled in size. Finish by brushing between slashes with water, then sprinkling with alternate lines of seeds.
• Put a roasting tin in the bottom of the oven 20 mins before ready to bake and heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Put the risen bread in the oven, carefully pour about 250ml cold water into the roasting tin (this will hiss and create a burst of steam to give you a crisp crust), then lower the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 30-35 mins or until golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack. If you tap the underneath of the loaf if should be firm and sound hollow.

SESAME-SUNFLOWER-POPPY-FLAX SEED BUTTERMILK BREAD!

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water.
• Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Combine buttermilk, butter or margarine, honey and the yeast mixture in a large bowl.
• Add the salt, all of the seeds and the whole wheat flour and wheat germ.
• Stir to combine.
• Add the bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well with a wooden spoon after each addition.
• When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with the oil.
• Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves.
• Place the loaves into the prepared pans.
• Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until the tops are brown and the bottom of a loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
• Makes 2 loaves.