English muffins

I grew up going to Bear Lake.  My Grandparents had a cabin right on the water of that deep blue lake.  My family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) spent many summer days there.  Each year, I could hardly wait until Memorial Day weekend, when we would make our first trip there after a long cold winter.  I loved that place and have many wonderful memories, but the food we ate together as a family seems to stick out in my mind.  It wasn't too fancy (taco salad, scones with homemade jam and honey butter, barbeque chicken, raspberries and cream, and banana and chocolate creamies), but it always tasted so good.  I remember my Grandpa Pinegar standing in the kitchen working the toaster and toasting English muffins for the next person in line.  I remember eating them slathered with butter and my Grandma's homemade raspberry jam. 

English Muffins

2 1/4 cup unbleached bread flour

1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

1 tablespoon shortening or unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 to 1 cup milk or buttermilk, room temperature

Cornmeal for dusting

Stir together the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a mixing bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer).  Stir in (or mix in on low speed with the paddle attachment) the shortening and 3/4 cup milk until the ingredients form a ball.  If there is still loose flour in the bowl, dribble in some of the remaining 1/4 cup milk.  The dough should be soft and pliable, not stiff.

Sprinkle flour on the counter, transfer the dough to the counter, and begin kneading (or mixing on medium speed with the dough hook).  Knead the dough for about 10 minutes (or mix for about 8 minutes), sprinkling more flour if need to make a tacky, but not sticky dough.  Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it to coat it with oil.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Let rise at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes, or until dough doubles in size.

Wipe the counter with a damp cloth and transfer the dough to the counter.  Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces of 3 ounces each.  Shape the pieces into boules (or round balls).  Line a sheet pan with baking parchment, mist the parchment lightly with spray oil, and dust with cornmeal.  Transfer the balls of dough to the sheet pan, spacing them about 3 inches apart.  Mist them lightly with spray oil, sprinkle them loosely with cornmeal, and cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a towel.

Proof at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the pieces nearly double in size and swell both up and out.

Heat a skillet of flat griddle to medium (350 degrees F if you have a thermometer setting).  Also, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with the oven rack on the middle shelf.

Brush the pan or griddle with vegetable oil or mist with spray oil.  Uncover the muffin rounds and gently transfer them to the pan, sliding a metal spatula under them and lifting them to the pan.  Fill the pan so that the pieces are at least 1 inch apart, not touching.  Cover the pieces still on the sheet pan with the plastic wrap or a towel to prevent them from developing a skin.  The dough that is being cooked will flatten in the pan and spread slightly, then the pieces will puff somewhat.  Cook them for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the bottom of the dough cannot cook any longer without burning.  The bottoms should be a rich golden brown; they will brown quickly, but will not burn for a while, so resist the temptation to turn them prematurely or they will fall when you flip them over.  Carefully flip the pieces over with the metal spatula and cook on the other side for 5 to 8 minutes in the same manner.  Both sides will be flat.  When the dough seems as if it cannot endure any further cooking time without burning, transfer the pieces to a sheet pan and place pan in the oven (don't wait for the still uncooked pieces, or the ones just out of the pan will cool down and will not respond to the oven stage).  Bake for 5 to 8 minutes on the middle shelf in the oven to ensure the center is baked.  Meanwhile, return to the uncooked pieces and cook them, then bake them, as you did the first round.

Transfer the baked muffins to a cooling rack and cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing or serving.

Recipe from Brown Eyed Baker