After the long school break, it's back to my usual routine again. Some how I am glad because I get to have more time to myself which means more baking!^_^. It's usually bread that comes to mind when I wonder which recipe to try out. What can I say, it's my favorite comfort food! After a visit to the salon yesterday, I went to buy some cold cuts, and decided on some lovely smoked chicken breast. Yup! Been wanting to make some ham & cheese bread for my family, which happen to be my husband's favorite sandwich combo. After some "research", I came up with a bread dough recipe which should be pretty good. :) Hard work does pay off! The bread is great with the delicious smoked chicken and thin slices of Cheddar....why did I wait so long to make this?!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrjVYnd9ddETgPRPK139iT0kFDbLNcX8Ugd_Q9DoXPjm9awTJUBhvEBSGjnEg0ATyigGrlXwxcsiJksCRI0ocyoiYDRLajrFHP8VgDlldVFR8gzAbS1b96_p3skQ60q-FOyqnDD6psLVu/s400/IMG_0365s.jpg)
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Nowadays I always double my recipe so that I can have some "play-dough" session...get it? Heehee, it's so fun to shape those dough into cute shapes to attract my kids to eat them. If they recognise what you mould out...then you've done a great job shaping the dough. If not....errr...it'll be something like what I did in the picture:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQw4CVotBdZFJdCwiiWvmORoXI1_36pBSgZIp1-hhY1RpwpUmOtpzGlCKyOJLhyphenhyphenGrT4skMvL-3pECw0WLnP9sNJ_biOvn_KEh1fdeHW7oYCml36FvYIzZCh5vHu3zwL3JWFMwhu9j3BOUF/s400/IMG_0384s.jpg)
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Ingredients for Soft Sanwich/Bun bread:
(starter dough)湯種:
150g bread flour
12g caster sugar
200ml hot water
60g unsalted butter
Main Dough:
450g bread flour
100g cake flour
1 whole egg
350ml water
9g instant active yeast
6g salt
75g caster sugar
25g milk powder
30g unsalted butter
Filling:200g smoked chicken breast, sliced (cold cuts of your choice)
8 to 10 slices sandwich Cheddar Cheese
Nutella / Cream cheese filling (optional)
Method:
- In a small pot, cook the starter dough ingredients with low fire till the mixture comes together. Remove from fire and set aside to cool completely before use.
- Mix all ingredients in main dough except for butter together in a large mixing bowl to form a soft dough. Place on work area to knead or mixer to do the kneading. Knead the dough till it is not sticky, about 20 minutes.
- Add the unsalted butter in and continue to knead till the dough is shiny and elastic. To test if the dough is ready, pull a small piece off and stretching it with your fingers. If dough is very elastic and pulls to almost see through without breaking, then it's done.
- Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap and allow to proof for at least 90 minutes to 2hrs.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Half for ham and cheese, the other for other fillings of your desire.
- In one half of the dough portion, divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll round and let rest covered before shaping them. The remaining half dough portion, do what ever shape you like, else make more ham and cheese buns.
- For the 8 pieces, roll it into a round flat circle. Place a slice of ham and cheese in the center and roll it up like a swiss roll. Seal the edges and cut right in the middle, so you have 2 small logs.
- Place the 2 small logs, cut side facing up in your desired greased baking pan. Repeat until all dough pieces, ham and cheese slices are used up.
- Let proof covered for 45 mins. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Bake in the oven for 40 minutes till the top is golden brown. Remove from mould after 5 minutes and let cool on rack.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVas9tpxyxpy1HqJ_lz05pIVb4Ao0HmZg9bUHGwQxX4g5DM-itZBHCJmCQN0DbL5tFNElGjH09JuTzra4emERzNYF71AjbqyOIM3z0T7UQsRQv15Ycuma_6Q4llJUrEo1Bs0lXs5PYz_mX/s400/IMG_0357s.jpg)