Honey. Aw Sugar, Sugar.
"Like the summer sunshine, pour your sweetness over me."
I'm jonesing hard for some spring/summer weather after the longest winter ever. I decided to make a recipe using some of my favorite spring flavors, lemons & honey! (I'm not sure if those are traditionally spring flavors, but I was inspired so I went with it.)
I created this recipe from scratch! And it's dairy-free!
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp raw sugar
zest of 1 lemon
zest of 1 orange
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup honey
1/8 tsp kosher salt
2 scant cups bread flour (plus extra for dusting)
Combine yeast, 1/4 cup warm water & raw sugar in a large bowl to activate yeast. Leave for 5-10 minutes.
Whisk together lemon zest, orange zest, lemon juice, olive oil & honey in a small bowl.
Add flour and salt to yeast, mixing slightly, then add liquid ingredients.
Mix by hand, forming dough into a ball.
Knead in bowl for 5 minutes.
Let rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
Separate dough into 8 even pieces.
Dust countertop with flour & roll each piece into a snake (you know, like you did with play-doh) then twist into knots by crossing the ends and fitting one end through the center hole.
Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and let rise for 1 hour.
Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool slightly. Serve warm.
I ate mine with Earth Balance soy butter. It was delicious. (Though I might have needed a little more salt in the dough.)
