Saturday, February 13, 2010

Crusty Bread Bowls

These, crusty bread bowls are great for serving soup or salad.... or even dips.

8 bowls

1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons dry yeast

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon water

In mixing bowl, combine water, sugar, and salt.

Add flours and yeast. Stir and then knead to make a smooth, slightly sticky dough. Knead for about 5 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes

Grease the outsides of eight 6-ounce custard cups (oven-safe). Place cups upside down on ungreased cookie sheets.

Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Pat or roll each piece into a 5-6 inch circle, on a lightly floured surface (or oil your hands and just form the dough in your hands). Shape dough over the outsides of the greased cups. Allow dough to touch cookie sheet, but not to curl under the edges of the cups.

Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes or until slightly puffy.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix egg yolk and water; brush gently over the bread bowls. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until bread is done and bowls are golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately, carefully remove bread from bowls. (I used oven mitts, since bowls and bread are very hot.)

Cool bread bowls upright on wire rack. Serve with chili or soup of your choice! :)


*  Can be frozen before baking - roll the dough out and freeze the discs on a cookie sheet - when frozen, plac them in a ziploc freezer bag.  To thaw- place them on top of the greased custard cups on the counter. After they thaw squish them down and let them rise and then baked as directed.