I hesitate to tell you the story of these buns because I know how you’ll roll your eyes but I feel that I must. I must because these buns are good and because these buns are easy.
I think I’m getting better but I also think that this is the point where things get worse before they can get better. It’s a good bit more painful than it was yesterday but I think that most of the blisters are in their final phase. Is that gross in a post mostly about food? Maybe, but it helps explain why I didn’t get dressed or leave the house today. Ben and Chase came nosing around the kitchen wondering why I was making bread and I told them the truth. I’m too lazy to go to the store to buy hamburger buns.
I know, Ben already told me that doesn’t make any sense but you have to understand my reasoning. Almost anything is worth not having to disrupt my day by getting dressed and driving the three blocks to Safeway. I might have decided differently if the recipe wasn’t so dead easy. You see, burger buns are meant to be soft so there really isn’t any kneading because you don’t have to develop the gluten. I used this recipe because it is of some acclaim on the internet. People all over the cooking forum universe talk about these buns.
The thing about hamburgers is that I don’t make them that often. Or, maybe I make them often enough I just don’t always know way ahead of time that it’s going to be a burger night. I don’t ever work burgers into the menu plan but sometimes they end up as cookout fare. It’s hard to buy buns for unplanned dinners, they just end up getting stale. These buns take about 2.5 hours to make including two rising times so if I know by like 4:30 that we’re doing burgers for dinner we can always have fresh buns! On most nights I’ve figured out dinner by 4:30… most.
It’s a good recipe for kids to help with too. Chase really like shaping the buns. I rolled the balls and she smooshed them, easy. She also brused on the egg wash and sprinkled on the sesame seeds. I’m seriously considering not buying buns anymore. I definitely recommend trying these especially if you have a stand mixer or food processor but the dough is so wet they’d be easy enough to mix up by hand too.
Actually, it was a pretty good day in the kitchen. I found a lime and a jalapeno in the fridge left over from something and made some salsa. The hydroponic lettuce guy always sneaks some extra veg into my bag so I thought better to use it up than not. Did you know that he wholesales to the White House?? That’s why you can’t tour his greenhouses.
Steph, That is impressive and I am sure that they are MUCH tastier than homemade buns. Don’t want to discourage your new commitment to not buying buns at the store anymore, but in case you are interested in the future, buns do freeze really well for those times you are not planning hamburgers into your weekly menu. I am sure that once you and your family tasted the homemade buns, you don’t want to go back to buying the cheap buns.
mmmmm that burger looks so good. Now I see a trip to five guys in my future this week :) all your fault. hehe. It’s funny, we never really plan for burgers either and I’m not sure why! They’re so yummy and easy. Plus lately we’ve been wanting to try out new stuff for the grill so I can’t remember the last time we did them on the grill either. I’ll have to work them in soon. We like to put a little cumin and diced up sun dried tomatoes in the mix. SO good.
I have yet to really try my hand at making dough…for some reason it really intimidates me. But maybe I’ll give this a try!
It was good! I used to load on toppings but now I just keep it simple. Mayo, ketchup and pickles. Lettuce and tomato if they’re perfect. You should try the buns! Really, they’re easy and probably a good way to jump into bread making because they seem like they’re very forgiving. Do it and let me know how it turns out.
ok you’ve convinced me!! :)
Wow – looks YUMMY!