Chewy Italian Rolls From Kaf Recipes

CHEWY ITALIAN ROLLS FROM KAF

Steps:

• BIGA:.
• Mix all ingredients until well blended.
• Cover bowl and let rest at room temperature for 12 to 20 hours, until very bubbly.
• DOUGH:.
• Mis biga with remaining ingredients for 2 to 4 minutes, using an electric mixer set on slow speed.
• Increase mixer speed to medium, and mix for about 4 minutes; the dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
• Add additional water or flour if necessary.
• Let dough rise in greased, covered bowl, for 1 to 2 hours, until very puffy.
• Turn dough out onto well floured surface, and shape it into a 6"x12" square.
• Using a bench knife or pizza wheel, cut out eight 3" square rolls.
• Place rolls, floured side up onto parchment paper.
• Cover rolls and allow to rise for 45 minutes or until puffy.
• Place a baking stone in the top third of oven, and preheat oven to 450.
• Bake the rolls for 13 to 15 minutes, until they are golden brown.
• Remove from oven and cool on rack.

CINNAMON STAR BREAD FROM KAF

Steps:

• To make the dough: Combine all of the dough ingredients and mix and knead - by hand, mixer, or bread machine - to make a soft, smooth dough.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 60 minutes, until it's nearly doubled in bulk.
• Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, cover the balls, and allow them to rest for 15 minutes.
• On a lightly greased or floured work surface, roll one piece of dough into a 10" circle. Place the circle on a piece of parchment, brush a thin coat of beaten egg on the surface, then evenly sprinkle with 1/3 of the cinnamon-sugar, leaving 1/4" of bare dough around the perimeter.
• Roll out a second circle the same size as the first, and place it on top of the filling-covered circle. Repeat the layering process - egg, cinnamon sugar, dough circle - leaving the top circle bare.
• Place a 2 1/2" to 3" round cutter in the center of the dough circle as a guide. With a bench knife or sharp knife, cut the circle into 16 equal strips, from the cutter to the edge, through all the layers.
• Using two hands, pick up two adjacent strips and twist them away from each other twice so that the top side is facing up again. Repeat with the remaining strips of dough so that you end up with eight pairs of strips.
• Pinch the pairs of strips together to create a star-like shape with eight points. Remove the cutter.
• Transfer the star on the parchment to a baking sheet. Cover the star and let it rise until it becomes noticeably puffy, about 45 minutes.
• While the star is rising, preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Brush the star with a thin coat of the beaten egg. Bake it for 12 to 15 minutes, until it's nicely golden with dark brown cinnamon streaks; the center should register 200°F on a digital thermometer.
• Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
• Yield: one star loaf, about 8 to 12 servings.