Pan de Leche- the starfish
October 6, 2010 at 7:18 pm 29 comments
Ahhh….the monkeys off my back.
Not MY Monkeys, but this monkey, (my Monkeys are frequently on my back.)
The starfish. No more shall I go to sleep muttering the words…starfish, starfish….no more shall I wake with bleary eyes, poke around for my days clothing, and wander as if pulled by an invisible chain to the kitchen muttering…starfish, starfish…
After stumbling upon this post, mentioning it to Celia who in turn sent me the instructions, then prompted by Heidiannie, then again asked by Joanna, who also sent me this post….I really just had to do it then didn’t I.
Pan de Leche dough sounded right for it. Pliable, not as eggy as a challah, it rolled perfectly and tasted like brioche. Got to love anything that tastes like brioche.
Pan de Leche- the starfish
200mls luke warm milk
2 tps dry yeast
1 egg
100gms softened butter
1/4 cup raw sugar
450gms flour
3 tbs olive oil
1 tps salt
Mix yeast in luke warm milk and set aside for 10 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients together (I used a mixer with dough hook) and also adding milk. Once mixed together, knead well until smooth and elastic. Cover and leave until doubled in size. Divide dough into 16 equal portions. Roll each portion out into a long snake, (leaving one aside to become a disk). Each snake should be the same length.
From here on in please refer to these posts, (one and two) as they will describe what to do far better than I will. The only difference being for the centre, I made a dough disk of about 1cm high to fill in the hole and then wound round a three strand plait, then tucked in again for the centre. Just before popping it in the oven, I brushed it all with milk. Baked at 220C until tips golden and then turned the oven down to 180C for a little further cooking.
* I’ve had a few posts about bread making recently. For so many people bread is a daily staple that plays a big role in the days meals. Making your own I can’t recommend it enough. It certainly doesn’t have to be like this, nor sourdough (although I’m sure you would love it). A simple bread maker machine quite often is enough. Comparing it to so many available shop breads, there really is no comparison in taste. Even if you only made one loaf a week it’s worth it.
Like this:
Entry filed under: food glorious food, it's all about the bread. Tags: 12 strand braid, butter bread, food, milk bread, pain au lait, pan de leche, plaiting bread, recipes, starfish, starfish bread.
1.
Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial | October 6, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Brydie, you STAR!!! Well done you!!! That looks just perfect…
I’m glad you were able to fit it into your oven – it looks huge! Did you have a party and invite everyone round to help you break bread?
2.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 1:45 am
It could be tweaked, but I was happy for a first run. I kept confusing myself with the four braid, and only got it down pat on the last leg. It fitted into a tray that’s probably 30cmx30cm, just!
No party, but 4 willing mouths ready to break bread.
3.
Nim | October 6, 2010 at 7:55 pm
If you had a party- I wasn’t invited :/ !!
That looks awesome!!
When will you dabble with gluten free?
4.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 1:48 am
Maybe I should do another…I miss L and F!
5.
heidiannie | October 6, 2010 at 8:02 pm
That is amazing!
You did it- and beautifully well!
Celia’s right – you are a star!
6.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 1:49 am
Your turn Heidiannie
7.
Joanna @ Zeb Bakes | October 6, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Twinkle Twinkle! I was looking at the instructions for a 6 star this afternoon as I waited for some dough to rise, then I looked at the instructions for a 6 strand braid… and then I popped the dough into tins – as you have probably seen. When I make challah I will have a go, until then I shall just admire and admire again your beautiful construction! Lovely, lovely work!
8.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 1:51 am
Joanna, if someone had said a year ago that I would be having so much fun with bread I would have laughed. It’s addictive!…and it keeps me out of trouble
9.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella | October 6, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Oh wow! What an amazing starfish! It’s so intricately pretty! I would sit there and admire that for days. This belongs in a bakery window
10.
Christine | October 6, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Magnificent!! I wouldn’t want to tuck into this one, it’s too lovely!! Amazing work!!
11.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 1:57 am
Thanks Lorraine and Christine. Looking pretty didn’t last long. I told Monkey Boy to break some off to eat while I was in the kitchen, he went straight for the middle…
12.
herby | October 6, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Wow and Yummo!!! That looks fantastic. And thank you for the great instructions.
Have just found your blog through Tales From a Well-Stocked Larder and I totally love it. Have subscribed and all. Will be back to read all your adventures
13.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 2:00 am
Thanks for reading Herby, and hello.
14.
Gavin | October 7, 2010 at 12:41 am
Very pretty. I bet it tasted delicious. So artistic.
15.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 2:02 am
Monkey Boy said it smelt like a fancy german bakery that we have round here…I was happy with that.
16.
Anna Johnston | October 7, 2010 at 3:46 am
Wow Brydie., this is incredible, you are a Star its true
I’m amazed at all you bakers and your amazing bread feats.
17.
LJ | October 7, 2010 at 3:59 am
brydie, this is amazing! You truly are so clever!
18.
Kristi | October 7, 2010 at 4:06 am
this would be so amazing for a beach party.
19.
Jaclyn | October 7, 2010 at 9:38 am
this is almost too pretty to eat. so it’s confirmed, you have officially convinced me to put a bread maker on this year’s xmas list…
20.
Yvette | October 7, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Wow!! What an impressive loaf of bread! Matches some of those found over here! Well done!!x
21.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 7, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Thanks everyone!
Jaclyn- put it on the list, I’m sure you won’t look back once you get started
Yvette- thats a kind compliment, considering there are some rocking breads in Italia.
22. RECIPES « Cityhippyfarmgirl's Blog | October 8, 2010 at 3:14 am
[...] Pan de Leche- the starfish [...]
23.
Choclette | October 8, 2010 at 6:42 am
My my, words fail me, you’ve surpassed yourself – there has got to be some prize or other out there for you to win. Wow
BTW, you may not have seen it, but I did credit you with the plate idea on one of my previous posts.
24.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 8, 2010 at 8:57 am
Thanks Choclette
it was fun making it, even if I did have to muster every brain cell I had.
25.
Gina | October 8, 2010 at 8:33 am
Bread porn at its finest. I finally have an oven back up and working, and was keen on making some brioche, but THIS – well, it’s just blown my crappy little notions out of the water
26.
cityhippyfarmgirl | October 8, 2010 at 8:58 am
Gina you could do this in a heartbeat. Wait until nap time and turn that brioche into the starfish…go on, you can do it!
27.
Pam | October 8, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Couldn’t agree more Brydie about it being well worth while trying bread making. I make no-knead bread for myself all the time (think you saw my post on it) and it’s sooooo much better than the commercial “stuff”!
You’ve done so very well with your starfish! It looks perfect! Well done you!!!
Thanks heaps for the visit.
28.
shayray | October 10, 2010 at 1:15 am
Love the starfish bread. So creative!
29.
spiceandmore | October 14, 2010 at 12:18 pm
That is a work of art – Well done you!