Beautiful Buns

You might get beautiful buns if you walk to the store rather than drive. 

But a sure-fire way to get beautiful buns is to make them at home! 

Italian Semolina Buns by Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

3 cups warm water 

1 1/2 Tbsp yeast

1 1/2 Tbsp salt 

3 cups semolina (durum) flour 

3 1/4 cups unbleached white flour 

Sesame seeds for top 

Cornmeal for pan 

Mix the salt, yeast and water together. 

Then add the flours and mix with a wooden spoon. No need to knead. 

Then set it aside to rise for 2 hours - covered, but not airtight. 

Never ceases to amaze! Use it right away, or you can store this dough in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. Have hot buns anytime! 

When you are ready to bake, dust a surface and your hands with flour, grab peach-sized chunks of dough and form into balls. Place on a baking sheet/pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal. Let them rise for another 30 minutes. 

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 450F and make your cornstarch wash:

1/2 tsp cornstarch mixed with a small amount of water to form a paste. Then add 1/2 cup water and whisk together. Microwave for 45 seconds until it appears glassy. It will keep refrigerated for 2 weeks as well - how convenient.  

Right before you are about to put them in, brush the buns with the cornstarch wash.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds, slash the buns 3 times with a serrated knife, and bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. 

Aren't these buns gorgeous!?!?

Just in time for some 4th of July BBQing tomorrow. 

I'm feeling pretty good about my new camera too!!! Liking the photos and it is super handy to have while baking! I got this thing wet and covered in flour today and didn't have to worry about it at all! 

Happy 4th of July!!!