Bacon, Onion and Walnut Mini-Breads

As Rosanna-Danna said, "It just goes to show, it's always something!"  I'll say!  This Saturday I had plans to meet with a reporter, Claire St. John, from The Davis Enterprise, who is writing an article on Davis food bloggers.  Imagine my surprise when I woke up Saturday morning with blood red, throbbing, itchy eyes, exuding a substance best left to your imagination.  I immediately called my friend Nancy, the all knowing pediatrician, who said it might be conjunctivitis. At her urging I called my eye doctor who concurred and phoned a prescription for antibiotic drops to my pharmacy.  Unfortunately, the drops weren't going to make my eyes feel or look better for some time. And a very nice reporter was coming to my house, despite being warned of the health crisis within.  She came to my house and interviewed me, and despite my oozing, throbbing eyes, I had a very enjoyable time talking with Claire.

Before developing the infection, I had planned to cook some yeast bread and vegetable soup, to show off.  Wouldn't you, if a reporter came to talk about your food blog?  But things were going all pear shaped.  I've always found kneading bread very soothing, so before I knew it, I was making the bread.  I could barely see what I was doing, and my doctor had advised me that it would be wise to forego serving anyone food.  But, there I was kneading bread and thinking about making the soup!  I suppose I thought the bread and soup would be some kind of prop showing that I really do cook the things on my blog.  "See this bread and the soup?  I made it.  Don't touch it, it may be full of bacteria."  What was I thinking?  At some point I realized that my vision was so poor I would probably cut my fingers off if I attempted making soup.  So, no soup.

The yeast bread was simple to make and, as I eventually discovered, quite delicious. But, they were only for show, little pariah breads.  Desperate to prove that I was a real foodie, I urged Claire to take a jar of pear jam, swearing I canned it according to USDA standards.  I remember babbling something about how "I only make my jam with fruit picked at the height of the season...."     Then I began cleaning the outside of the jar with disinfecting solution.  Sigh.  I think the conjunctivitis affected my brain.  Fortunately for me, Claire was very nice about the whole thing.

About the bread--do make it. It only makes 6 rolls, which could cause arguments in your house as people fight over the paltry number.

Wash you hands a lot. Don't touch your eyes.  Ever.

Bacon, Onion and Walnut Mini-Breads                    (Hubert Keller, Fleur de Lys Restaurant)

For the sponge:

1 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
2 Tbs. lukewarm milk
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour

For the dough:
2 bacon slices, finely diced
1 small onion, finely diced
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more
as needed
1 Tbs. sugar
Pinch of salt
1 egg
1/4 cup milk, at room temperature
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, at room temperature, plus more for brushing
2 Tbs. diced cooked ham (or use an additional slice of minced bacon)
2 Tbs. coarsely minced walnuts
1/4 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten with 1 tsp. water

To make the sponge, in a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk. Stir in the flour, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place until foamy, about 10 minutes.

To make the dough, in a small nonstick fry pan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring often, until evenly browned, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate, leaving the drippings in the pan. Add the onion to the pan and cook, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Transfer the onion to the plate with the bacon. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour, sugar and salt and beat on low speed until well blended, about 1 minute. With the mixer running, add the egg and milk. Increase the speed to medium and knead for 5 minutes. Add the 3 Tbs. butter and knead for 3 minutes. Stop the mixer and add the sponge. Increase the speed to medium-high and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the bacon, onion, ham, walnuts, thyme and parsley and knead until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel, set in a warm place and let rise until doubled in volume, about 1 1⁄2 hours.

Preheat an oven to 400ºF. Butter a 6-well muffin mold and place on a baking sheet.

Punch down the dough, divide into 6 equal-size balls and place in the prepared molds. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Brush the tops of the breads with the egg yolk mixture and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

Immediately invert the mold onto a wire rack and remove the breads, using a toothpick to gently loosen them, if needed. Let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 6 mini-breads.

Comments

[Tanna]

Conjunctivitis is one of the strangest things to get us. It's so dramatic in it's appearences and consequences. Doesn't take too long to subside with the antibiotics but until it does it is uck. Hope you're better now since you can see to type I assume so.
Probably good you gave up the soup idea. The little breads are beautiful. Did you really get a good look at them before they were gone.
This is just a perfect recipe size in my house with only two people!

[Butta Buns]

I feel bad for laughing but this is too funny! Murphy must have been sitting on your shoulder, he tends to do that when there's something important afoot. And I'm very glad to hear that you're getting good press. You, Upsie, and your blog defintely deserve it!

The rolls look irresistable, who can say no to bacon?

[Julie]

I feel bad for laughing too but this was very, very funny. I'm glad you're able to laugh about it because conjuctivitis is the pits. Hope you're feeling better. Oh, and these little mini breads look delicious!

[gattina]

Sher,
hope your eyes have a speedy recovery! If we couldn't eat your bread, still would give it a good sniff off the screen ... too good can't miss! And so excited to hear your blog being on media! Please let us know once your story printed out :D
And you know what, I've just made two soups (butternut sqash and tuscan milestrone) for my mother-in-law, they're so tasty! I'm sure my mil will love them too. Thanks for these wonderful recipes!!!

[Glenna]

mmmmmmmmm....pear-shaped...oh wait, that's a BAD thing. I don't feel bad for laughing at all. I think it's funny as hell and I'm laughing my butt off. No apology. (Kidding) Hope your eyes feel better soon. Gene had that last year and he was miserable too so I get it. Not fun at all! Bread looks great, though, you silly goose. Can't believe you were still trying to cook instead of sitting back with an ice pack on your eyes. Congrats about the reporter, though. How did the article come out?????

[s'kat]

What a case of bad timing! I'm sure the interview went wonderfully, can't wait to see the article!

Hope you are feeling better!

[Jeff]

Bacon in rolls?? YUM!!

[aria]

oh no! that stinks but hilarious post, little pariah breads...

finally the media has caught on, i hope we can all read the article. i would have done the same thing - you couln't NOT have had something baking! NO WAY :)

[aria]

oh and i hope you feel better very soon!

[Joy T.]

Isn't that always the way. I'm not familiar with the eye infection but it sure sounds icky. But you know you're a pro if you can be almost blind and STILL make bread that looks sooooo good. Congrats on the interview!

[Anh]

Sher, I hope you are better now! And your bread looks so gooood!!

[Jennifer]

Oh no!!! I hope you feel better soon! Conjunctivis, ick. My daughter has problems with that constantly! :(

[sher]

Tanna,

Thank you. The bread recipe is perfect for one or two people. Of course they would freeze well too. My eyes are getting better--but the itchy feeling drives me nuts! I can type, but I keep ice packs near to put on my eyes. That helps.

Butta Buns,

Thank you. There are several bloggers in my town and the reporter has interviewed all of us. Fortunately, everyone else was healthy. And this was funny when you really think about it! One of those little moments in life!

Julie,

Thank you. Oh yes, I can see the absurdity in trying to bake bread when I'm sick! :):) Talk about compulsive. My mom did that all the time. Guess that's where I got it.

Gattina,

Thank you. I'm so glad you liked the soup. I really liked that minestrone. The bread had such a good smell, yeasty dough and bacon, thyme and onion. Yum!

Glenna,

Thank you. Yes, pear shaped is a bad thing. I got that term from watching so many Masterpiece Theater episodes! Conjunctivitis is not pretty. And I already have my little eye problem, so this added to it is pretty annoying.

s'kat,

Thank you. Compared to Saturday--I feel great! Still have that annoying itchy feeling where you want to pluck your eyeballs out and rub sandpaper on them!

Jeff,

Yeah, how can you miss with that?? :)

Aria,

Thank you. Yes, I'll always call them pariah rolls now! Glad you would have made something too! :):)

Joy T,

Thank you! Yes, it's always something! But as long as we can drag ourselves to the kitchen we will cook--even when it doesn't make sense.

Anh,

Thank you. I'm getting better. (Knock on wood.) :)

Jennifer,

Thank you. Yes, I understand that this is a fairly common problem for kids now. My heart goes out to your daughter, because it's really hard not to rub your eyes when you have this!

[Céline]

Hi Sher, you did impressively well for someone who could barely see. These little breads look just delicious! they look a bit like little brioches, very very nice
take care, hopefully you will be better soon!

[Mandira]

Sher - Hope you are feeling better. The mini breads looks oh so delicious! I've also tagged you for a Meme. Hope you'll play!

[Bunty]

I AM SO SORRY YOU WERE SICK AT THE TIME OF YOUR INTERVIEW. WILL BE ANXIOUS TO SEE THE REPORTERS COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR BREAD, IT LOOKS DELICIOUS.

[murat]

can this coocies be fried with gluten-free materials.?