Chapter 1513 - 585: Big Rye Bread Covered in Dried Fruits, Soft Honeybread—Learn Both at Once!

Chapter 1513: Chapter 585: Big Rye Bread Covered in Dried Fruits, Soft Honeybread—Learn Both at Once!

"That rascal said he’d bake tonight when he left, but it turns out he was lying. He really hasn’t learned anything good from Old Xie."

He said he’d bake tonight, but it’s actually happening at noon.

I must say, it really does have that cheeky senior apprentice vibe.

Lin Xu laughed and said:

"Maybe he’s just playing a joke on us. I used to think Chef Qiu was quite scholarly, but ever since he got an apprentice, he’s become much more carefree."

Liao Jinming quickly ate a donut and grabbed a small croissant:

"Those smart folks never show their cards as simply as that."

As the director of the Dining Department, Liao Jinming felt this deeply.

Yuan Debiao said:

"Don’t involve me, they’re as cunning as monkeys. I’ve always been honest and straightforward... Oh, by the way, Director Liao, take a few of the light breads back with you when they’re done."

As soon as Liao Jinming was about to bite into the croissant, he became alert at those words:

"What are you up to?"

Yuan Debiao, holding a rolling pin, said while rolling some dough:

"What could I be up to? Just trying to butter up the boss. Here’s the thing, I think there should be another persimmon tree in the yard of Building No. 8 for symmetry, and it has good meaning too, like good happenings coming in pairs."

"You can’t plant fruit trees in the public green area next door. Why do you keep wanting to plant a persimmon tree? Are you planning to plant eggplants, beans, cucumbers, and peppers in the yard next?"

"Is that okay, Director Liao?"

"No way. This isn’t your hometown vegetable garden. Get to work properly; none of you let people relax..."

From Liao Jinming’s words, Lin Xu sensed a deep fatigue.

Managing such a group of lively talents isn’t easy.

Yuan Debiao rolled the dough into strips, flattening one end in the process.

After this, he mixed some starch water and brushed it onto the flattened dough.

Lin Xu knew this step was to stick the nuts.

He brushed the water, then scattered the prepared nuts on top, and reminded Lin Xu:

"You can put any dried fruits; just adjust based on your taste, but don’t use too much, or you won’t be able to roll it up."

After speaking, he rolled the dough from one end, pressing it as tightly as possible. At the end, the thin side was rolled underneath.

He made slight adjustments and shaped it into a long strip.

Once finished, they were placed on a baking sheet and sent to the nearby electric oven. A bowl of water was placed below the oven, the fermentation function was turned on, and the dough started the second rise.

In the meantime, Yuan Debiao beat two egg yolks for coloring the light bread.

Soon, the light bread in the oven doubled in size.

Taking it out, he evenly brushed a layer on the bread with a brush. After brushing, he let it sit for a while, then brushed another layer when it seemed dryish; this gives a more even color and better appearance.

The egg wash was brushed three times in total; after brushing, it was scored diagonally with a knife.

Not too deep, just enough to expose the nuts inside.

Yuan Debiao reminded:

"Be sure to score after brushing the egg wash; it gives a more appealing look as it bakes with color variations."

Once scored, they were sent to the oven to bake.

Having finished the croissant, Liao Jinming asked Yuan Debiao:

"Anything else to bake later? If not, head over to Building No. 6 for learning and support."

"We still have the baldhead cookies, those little banana-shaped snacks. Do you want to try some?"

"Nah, I’m worried you’ll make more demands."

Liao Jinming walked away with his hands behind his back, while Yuan Debiao looked helpless:

"They’re really getting harder to fool."

Lin Xu: ??????

Are you treating tricking Director Liao as some kind of challenge?

To change the subject, he started talking about the baldhead cookies:

"Chef Yuan, are baldhead cookies easy to make?"

"Pretty easy. The dough-making process is similar to before, but with a higher proportion of honey."

Compared to light bread, Russian baldhead cookies are slightly less known domestically.

This is a kind of Russian-style snack, mainly made of honey whole wheat flour or rye flour. The exact name should be honey coarse grain cookies.

Typically, these cookies are made in small banana shapes, very cute and exquisite.

The surface is coated with a layer of icing sugar, crispy on the outside, soft inside, and addictively delicious.

Back when Lin Xu was in school, he really liked them when he first tried them, occasionally buying some online. But most often, he ate the ones Shen Jiayue brought.

It’s not polite not to eat her goodies after she brought them from far away.

Now, as he keeps eating, he became her husband; truly, accepting favors imposes obligations.

In truth, Lin Xu wasn’t very interested in light bread; he actually wanted to learn how to make baldhead cookies, especially after eating so many from Shen Jiayue. It seemed time to pay back the favor.

He wondered what his Baobao’s reaction would be to the freshly baked baldhead cookies.

Yuan Debiao brought a small milk pot, melted butter inside, then added a bit more honey than butter and boiled again, mixing them together.

Then, added half a teaspoon of baking soda.

Turned off the heat and stirred quickly.

The butter and honey in the pot started to rise up, as Yuan Debiao stirred and said:

"At this point, you have to stir quickly, or the butter and honey will overflow."

Lin Xu was curious:

"What’s the purpose of adding baking soda?"

"To create bubbles. It makes the texture softer and neutralizes the acidity from fermentation."

This cleared things up.

Lin Xu quietly noted this information.

Once the butter and honey were done simmering, Yuan Debiao fetched a small basin, cracked two eggs inside, poured in a carton of milk, and then added the simmered butter and honey, mixing it thoroughly.