There are few foods as yummy as homemade bread, warm from the oven. From that unmistakable aroma as it bakes – to sneaking that first little slice when it’s ready – we love everything about making our own bread!
And one of the BEST things about it is that it doesn’t take that long to make.
Really!
In our experience, everyone loves homemade bread, but most people assume that it takes a long time to prepare. Well, as with most homemade bread recipes, this one involves about FIFTEEN MINUTES of actually ‘doing’ something – the rest of the time is spent waiting for the dough to rise.
For just fifteen minutes of effort, you can have delicious bread, warm from the oven, made to your own specifications and FAR cheaper than from the stores.
Have we sold it to you yet?
If so, then we really recommend today’s herby bread rolls recipe, which is ideal for the whole family. The rolls are soft inside and wonderfully crusty on the outside. Although your little one won’t be able to bite and chew these without some teeth and fairly well developed chewing skills, we’ve given these rolls to our little ones as a finger food from around 8 to 9 months of age. They’ve had a great time sucking away on them and gnawing at the crusts to relieve sore gums (under strict supervision, of course).
The herbs and olive oil used in this recipe add a wonderful Mediterranean flavour to these rolls and the herbs we’ve listed are our particular favourites. But, of course, you’re free to use any herbs you like to create a flavour blend to suit YOUR little one!
NOTE: We sprinkled our rolls with sesame seeds before baking, as our youngest is a toddler who can manage them. However, sesame seeds may pose a choking hazard for younger babies and – in some cases – may trigger allergic reactions. Please do check with your doctor before giving sesame seeds to your baby.
To Make Healthy Herby Bread Rolls For Your Baby, Toddler (and Mommy and Daddy Too!) You Will Need…
3/4 tsp instant yeast
10 fl oz (1 1/4 cups) warm water
1 tsp sugar (this is necessary to activate the yeast)
6 oz (1 1/2 cups) whole wheat flour
6 oz (1 1/2 cups) all purpose (plain) flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp dried oregano
Preheat the oven to 400 deg F (200 deg C).
Place the yeast and sugar into a small bowl and pour in a little of the warm water. Set aside until the mixture looks frothy on top.
Once the mixture is frothy, stir in the oil, basil and oregano.
In a separate, large bowl, combine the two different flours and the salt. Make a well in the middle and add the yeast/herb mixture and the rest of the warm water.
Combine the mixture with your hands until it comes together as a dough, then transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes.
Put the dough in a clean, oiled bowl and cover with a clean tea towel.
Set aside to rise in a warm place for around an hour (if you have a gas oven, sit it in there with just the pilot light keeping it warm).
After an hour, punch the air out of the dough and pull it into little balls (this recipe gives us 16 little rolls).
Roll the balls with your hands to shape them, then place them on an oiled baking sheet, leaving enough room between them for them to rise.
Put back into a warm place to rise for another 30 minutes.
Place in the oven and cook for around 30 minutes until the rolls are golden in colour and sound hollow when you tap them underneath.
Share with baby, either spread with a little butter or dipped in a little olive oil.
Great with soup, or just as they are!
Please do let us know if your little one enjoyed these herby rolls!
Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
Try some bread with a fruity twist…
Easy Banana Bread for Baby
Kim
Wednesday 5th of January 2011
hi there, I have just been thinking of starting to make my own bread as organic wholemeal is hard to find... has anyone tried these in a bread maker?