Puppy Blogging: Buns and Babies

My mom's puppy is spending the week with us.  Mom warned me that Matti is a 125 pound toddler, and she was right.  She is comparable to a two-year-old who whines to get her way, and naps long and hard after hours running in the sunshine.  She needs me to wipe her mouth after she eats and give her constant attention and supervision. If I am not looking, she puts weird things in her mouth.  Well, actually she puts everything in her mouth! At the end of a long day, she snuggles with her favorite toy and sleeps. Like a toddler, she gives back as much sweetness and love as she gets.

I hope your weekend is filled with puppies, whether you tuck them into bed or onto your grill.  If you are a grilled dog lover, bake some tasty buns to go with them. These buns come in batches of eight not twelve, so you won't have to create ways to use up those extra rolls.  While you are gnawing on that, check out this bit on why hot dog packs (usually come 8 to a package) and buns (typically sold by the dozen) don't match up.

Hot Dog Buns
Makes 8
1/3 cup butter, melted but not hot
3/4 cups half and half (plus a tablespoon or 2 to brush buns before baking)
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon horseradish powder (mustard or celery powder would also be nice)
2 teaspoons baking powder

1. Whisk together butter, half and half, yeast, sugar, and egg; set aside for 5 minutes or until foam develops.

2. Sift together 2 cups of the flour, salt, and horseradish powder; combine with yeast mixture until very soft dough forms. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and rise in warm place about 30 minutes.

3. Sift together remaining flour and baking powder; stir into dough and knead until smooth.

4. Divide dough into 8 pieces and shape into long buns; place about 1/2 inch apart on greased baking sheet. Cover and rise until double, about one hour.

5. Brush tops of buns with half and half; bake in preheated 375 degree oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.