BAKING- BREAD - slighly spiced up.

"The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight."M. F. K. Fisher (1908-1992)

Walking down a bakery creates a sensory overload, especially when we've had a long day.  Mom would come home in the evening  passing this Iyengar Bakery(a famous bakery in the southern part of India,which is still very famous for their special baked goods), and she often would buy the Masala Bun or Bread.  The two other members of the house were not fond of bread, then why?, I used to think then.  As time passed , I realized my mom loved a good hearty spicy bread/bun.

I started baking and breaking into the mysterious yeast proofed bread long time ago.  It's simple yet a bit tricky, failed many times before I finally succeeded and have never looked back at when it comes to this basic bread. The success I found in my kitchen was always transferred to my parents through pictures.  She would always drool over the fresh baked bread pictures.  Now, whenever I bake them I dedicate em' to MY MOM. MOM's rock....Happy MOMS Days!!

BREAD with dry  SPICES:

Ingredients:

2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 packet active dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
2/3 cup warm water(110 degrees)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp pepper coarsely crushed
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 chaat masala
1/2 tsp nigella/kalonji for topping

Method:

1.  Add sugar and yeast with warm water and let stand for
20 minutes
2.  Add All Purpose Flour, salt, butter and yeast mixture. Add all the dry spices except for the topping.
The dough should be lightly sticky.  Knead the dough by
hand for 5 minutes till a smooth ball is formed.  Then put in a oiled bowl, cover and keep in warm place for
2 hrs to rise.
3. Lightly punch the dough, divide it into equal portions and form it into any shape, keep in a pan and let rise
for another 2 hours
4.  Lightly butter it and spread some nigella seeds and BAKE in preheated 400 degrees oven for 25 minutes.  Take it out, brush it again lightly with butter or olive oil and ENJOY when it's warm...just simply simply delicious.
ENJOY!!

Drop in a comment on your Mom's favorite food and your feedback means a lot..Thanks