a "been-there" mom of six offers encouragement
to wives, young mothers, and those not so young,
and simple common-sense approaches to
the "ings" of life:
child-rearing (hints and helps), homemaking (all areas),
cooking (simple, cheap, and do-it-yourself)
making (toys and gifts), preparing (for the unexpected),
maintaining (sanity and peace in this increasingly crazy world) and more---
all aspects of making the most of making do on little---
and having fun in the process.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Bake a Bread Bear


            This is a little more work than I usually go to, but it was for a special occasion.----Back to School!  Actually, at the time, I made six alligators for their breakfast on the first day of the new school year.  The years went by and I totally forgot the alligators.  
            One evening knowing we wouldn't be home, a son called and left a message on our answering machine. He named many things that had special meaning to him throughout his growing-up years and thanked us for them, including the alligators of long ago. He was getting married the next day and this was his special thanks to us before he took the next step in his life. None of the things he listed were "big" things or expensive things, but they were what he remembered.   They meant a lot to him, and his remembering them meant a lot to us.
             What does this bear, have to do with the alligator, you ask? It's a stretch. . . I no longer have the instructions for making the alligator, but do have these directions for making these cute bears. You can take it from there.


Bread Buddies for "Beary" Special Occasions  (makes 5 bears)


5-1/4 to 5-1/2 cups flour
1 package dry yeast
1 cup milk                                                                                                                  
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
2 T. finely shredded orange peel
1/4 cup orange juice


1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 recipe sugar  glaze (below)
Dried fruits, nuts or candies


Also needed: Biscuit cutters or clean empty containers 
(cans or pill bottles) with openings in the following 
sizes: 1", 2", 2-1/2".


Combine 2 cups flour and yeast. Heat milk, sugar, 
shortening and salt until warm, stirring constantly. 
Add the flour mixture, eggs, orange peel and orange juice. 


Beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping often. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Sir in as much of the remaining flour as you can. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic (3 to 5 minutes).  


Place in greased bowl. Cover with lightweight dishtowel or other cloth. Let rise in a warm place until double, about one hour. Punch down. Cover. Let dough rest 10 minutes.


On lightly floured surface, working with half of the dough at a time, roll out to 1/2" thickness. Cut out five 2-1/2 inch circles, five 2-inch circles and 25-1 inch circles.


Mix the slightly beaten egg white with 1 T. water. To assemble each bear, place one 2-1.2 inch circle (body) on lightly greased baking sheet. Brush the edge of one 2-inch circle (head) with egg white mixture and join to body. Brush four 1-inch circles (arms and legs) and join at appropriate locations. Cut one 1-inch circle in half; brush flat sides, join to head, for ears.


Make five bears, separating them from each other on the baking sheets. Cover assembled bears and let rise in a warm place until nearly double (about 20 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Brush with sugar glaze. Decorate with dried fruit, nuts, or candies, as desired.


Sugar Glaze:  blend together 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 cup hot water and 1 tsp. butter or margarine.




If you like this bear, you may want to continue the beary theme. Check out the "Good News Bear" in Copy-Cats



No comments: