Cardamom & Cinnamon Swirl bread...

The ambience was perfect for baking. I had the whole house to myself & I had all the ingredients in my kitchen cabinet. My buddy, the radio was belting out good songs. I am on a baking spree these days and I can’t complaint. This bread is special because, it includes my two favorite C’s- Cardamom and Cinnamon. Oh boy, the smell that wafts all around the house, just spikes up your spirit! This one is a winner :)

Phew, preparation time is long. And you have to be patient while the yeast does the trick. If you are an impatient soul like me, it becomes tough. Trust me, all the patience is rewarded with a sensational and aromatic bread :)

Ingredients

• 1 cup Milk
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 2-1/2 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 3-1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 11/2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tablespoon Cardamom
• Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing
• Softened Butter, For Smearing And Greasing

Instructions

1. Step 1 will be to awaken your sleeping yeast. Mix yeast and 1/4 tsp of sugar in a bowl with 2-3 tbsp of warm water. Set it aside for five minutes for the yeast to froth.
2. Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don’t boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot.
3. Since I used salted butter, I haven’t used any salt separately for the dough.
4. In a bowl beat sugar and eggs until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the flour, bit by bit and knead until combined.
5. If dough is very sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and knead for 5 minutes.
6. Once the dough is done, place it in a bowl and set it in a warm, hospitable place for an hour.
7. The dough should double in volume after an hour.
8. Once the dough is doubled, punch out the air and gently knead it on a work surface.
9. with the help of a rolling pin, roll the dough in a rectangle (ensure it is not too wide to put in the baking pan).
10. Spread some butter on the dough.
11. Mix sugar, cardamom and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.
12. Spread the baking pan with softened butter. Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 45 minutes.
13. Preheat oven to 180 degree celsius.
14. Mix a little egg with milk, and brush over the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.
15. Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve with a cuppa steaming coffee- bliss!

Apple & Cinnamon rolls

My baking story begins in a super market- I spot a big sale on apples and buy them without thinking. The burden of impulsive purchase lies heavily on my heart and I try to eat my apples everyday. So, here I am, eating apples in the morning, noon and night- Now, I am sick and tired of eating them. After a week of indulging in apples, I don't even want to look at them. Luckily, there are only three apples left and I don't feel like eating them anymore. They are sitting on my table in a bowl and glaring at me...Finally, I am thinking of using them in a pie? cake? - Guess what happened to my apples??

Viola, Apple Cinnamon rolls-

Ingredients- (for the base)


2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisin
1/2 cup milk (warm)
1/4 cup warm honey
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg
2 1/2 tsp yeast

Ingredients- (for the filling)

1 cup chopped apples (chopped to tiny bits)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used almonds- can use walnuts/pecan nuts)
1/2 tsp cardamom 

Preparation- dough

In a bowl, dissolve yeast in milk, honey and melted butter. Set it aside for five minutes. In another bowl, mix salt and raisins with flour. Pour in the yeast liquid with egg. Slowly, start kneading the flour- Dump the contents on a lightly floured surface and patiently work on the flour for 10 to 15 minutes. Once kneaded, the flour should be smooth and silky. Place it in a greased bowl and cover it with a damp tea towel. Allow the dough to raise for an hour.

Preparation- filling

In a bowl, mix apples with cinnamon, cardamom, butter, sugar and nuts. Blend well and keep it aside.

Final preparation- 

Once the dough has doubled in size, punch out the air and knead it gently on a lightly floured surface. With a rolling pin, start rolling out the dough into a flat square. Brush melted butter on the dough. Dump the apple filling in middle and spread it gently on the dough (all around the flat square). Start rolling the dough along the long edge till it is completely rolled up into a big log. You have to do it gently and ensure that the apple filling does not fall out. Slice the dough into equal sized pieces and place it on a baking tray. Cover it with a damp cloth and allow it to raise for 15-20 minutes. Give it a quick egg wash (egg beaten with milk or water). Bake them in a preheated oven @ 175 degree celsius till golden brown. Enjoy!