LOBSTER ROLL (the roll not the lobster) also HOT DOG BUNS and just plain MILK BREAD as a loaf, so good, so easy

I make "milk bread" and have decided to use the recipe, with a small modification as the base recipe for my Lobster Rolls.  There's a long boring story about the rolls that involves a slightly famous cooker type but I was removed from their feed after my comments, not bitchy just observant, so I'm not playing there anymore.  I still, however, adore Lobster Rolls and even though I can't actually afford the lobster and caviar (!!!) to make the cookers version I'm still making them to hold my world famous, most delicious on earth egg salad.  I have chickens so I can egg salad my way from here to Christmas.  HAHA

Here is the low down and the zillion pics to help you make this dough.  It makes great bread, it makes great individual rolls and it make awesome lobster rolls.  I did, as you can see, invest in the specialty pan but you sure don't have to.  Just roll the dough into tubes and put them close in a pan that just fits them till they rise and you'll do just fine.

TRACY'S LOBSTER ROLL, HOT DOG,
JUST PLAIN DELICIOUS "MILK" BREAD RECIPE

The first thing you have to do, yes you do, is make the "yangzhong" or hot water roux for the dough.  Yes you have to, yes it works, yes it helps, just do it, it's easy :) It's an ancient Japanese technique or making bread, don't listen to the newbies tell you it's a new idea or recently discovered, geez people, it's been around for a hundred or more years and I, personally, have been using it for over 10.

HOT WATER ROUX or  "yangzhong"

In a 2 cup microwaveable measuring cup, put 1 cup of water and 1/3 cup flour, microwave for 1-2 minutes, just till it boils.  Whip with a fork, cover and leave on the counter till cooled then store in the fridge.  You can make 2 batches of this dough with it, no, you can't only make half :D

   


THE DOUGH

In the bowl of your kitchen aid (or by hand, don't get in a snit) combine the following:

3 cups a/p flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast (one packet)
1/4 cup sugar (scant)
1 tsp salt
1 large or xl egg
1/2 cup milk
3 Tbsp room temp butter
1/2 cup of the hot water roux, cooled

Add the dough hook and let it go until it's all combined.  It will look gnarly and not cohesive.

    

Then, slowly and just a little at a time, seriously, go slow here, add


1-5 Tbsp Warm tap water

to make a cohesive, slightly sticky dough.

Turn the mixer to 4-5 and let it knead for you about 5 minutes.  OR just get in there with your hands and start kneading...and kneading...and kneading.  By machine, it will clear the sides of the bowl and be slightly stuck at the base.  When it's done, the dough will be smooth and clear and no longer stuck to the bottom.

   
Give it a quick knead by hand, to feel involved in the process.  Pop the dough into a lightly sprayed tub, I use a grout mixer bowl from Home Depot with a lid, I'm so cheffy.  Anyway, pop the lid on and leave it on the counter until it at least doubles. Remember my house is full of yeast because of the volume of bread I cook so it will take longer at your house.

     

Put it in a lightly oiled bucket and leave it about an hour till it doubles.  Spray your lobster roll pan or whatever vessel you're going to bake them in.

   

This dough is happy and relaxed and easy to just press out to the size of the lobster roll pan.  IF you're doing a 9x13, divide the dough into 10/12 and roll to the width of your pan and lay them in.  For the lobster roll people, just gentle press the dough to approximately the size of the pan then lift it in and gentle ease it into the corners.  Cover, or in my case, put the pan in those oversized veggie bags you get at HEB, yes, I always use the extra large bags so I can use them for bread.  Leave till it rises to almost the top.

   

PREHEAT oven to 375 while it rises.  

This dough doesn't double this time, it just poooooofs to about 1/4 ? inch from the top of the pan

    

This is where it gets weird.  Grease the bottom of a sheetpan and put it on top of the rolls when it goes in the oven, it makes the rolls a bit denser and fills the pan, forcing the dough down and into the corners.  

Bake with a sheet pan on it about 15 minutes. I bake on the top third of the oven so the bottom/top doesn't get too brown.  Remove the top pan and cook another 15 or so till it's done. 

Remove to a rack, inverting immediately.  I brush with a little butter and there, leave it to cool a bit then we'll doctor it up and fill it and eat it!!  

   

Now, we wait (ooooh, it's been worth it) 

Slice at the grooves, cut down the middle most of the way but leave it attached at the bottom.  Butter on both sides, yes do it...toast in a dry pan till a little crispy.  

   

Then pull gently apart and FILL IT and EAT IT!

These are just gratuitous beauty shots

   

I hope you make these, I hope you enjoy them and make them often.  Fill them with anything, cold salad, hot dogs and if you happy to be famous or inherit some dollars or simply hit a windfall that supplies you with big bucks then by all means, fill 'em with lobster salad and caviar.

/enjoy