What to do on a Bank Holiday Monday when it’s pissing it down…
Fancy cobs
200g – Brown or Wholemeal bread flour
300g – White bread flour
Oil – 2 tablespoons or Butter – 2 tablespoons (works with either)
Sugar – 1 tablespoon
Salt – 1 teaspoon
Water – 300ml
Yeast – 2½ teaspoons (You can actually get away with skimping a bit here!!!)
Egg yolk – 1
Garnish – The choice is endless here and here’s just a few that I’ve used… Poppy seeds, paprika, sea salt with rosemary, fennel seeds.
Pop water and oil into bread-machine. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar & salt and then tip into the machine. Make a small well in the centre of the mix and pour in the yeast. Set the machine to a dough setting and hit start. When the cycle has finished, tip the sticky dough onto a floured surface and knead well for about 5 mins. You can then cut the dough into the required cobs. I usually get about 12 cobs (depends how big you want them really I guess). You can also shape them if you want??? I tend to do 4 sorts; one lot I roll the dough into a rough spiral, the other I pop a simple knot into, one lot I pop 3 cuts into the top of the cob and the others I snip the dough 6 times in a wheel style (not sure that really explains it too well!!!).
Pop them onto greased baking trays and cover with a damp tea-towel and leave for about 20 mins to hopefully double in size. When you’re happy, brush the cobs with the egg yolk and give them a generous sprinkling of your chosen garnish. Bake in the oven (Gas 6) for about 15 mins. You may have to turn them round half way through to ensure they all bake.