Animal Bread
This summer holiday I ran a bread making workshop for children(age 4-11) where we made pizza and shaped rolls. Last year on my summer cookery club we made both focaccia and pizza so most of the pupils attending this year knew the basics of kneading dough. Bread dough is such a fabulous medium for children to work with. With a bit of time, care and attention it can be modelled into lots of different shapes.
The day before the workshop most of my pupils had seen the Great British Bake Off episode where the contestants make Paul Hollywood’s 8 strand plait loaf. Thankfully the children were more than happy to stick to a conventional 3 strand plait, a traditional cob, snail and hedgehog along with odd cobra and newt. Who said bread has to be conventional.
When making bread with kids I often use a 50:50 plain to strong flour mix. This makes the dough easier to work with and it is less likely to ping back.
Animal Rolls
Makes 4
250g plain flour
250g strong white flour
8g salt
5g yeast
300ml warm water
1 egg, beaten
1) In a bowl mix together the dry ingredients, then add the water.
2) Stir until the dough comes together then turn out on to a floured surface.
3) Knead the dough for around 10 minute until the dough is soft & smooth.
4) Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover in clingfilm and leave for 1-2 hours until dough has nearly doubled in size.
5) Knock back the dough and divide in to 4 pieces.
To make snail
1) take a piece of dough and divide in to 2 piece, one piece being twice the size of the other.
2) Roll both pieces into a long sausage.
3) Take the longest piece and roll into a swirl.
4) Take the other piece of dough and attach to the swirl. This is the snail’s body
5) Use a cloves for the eye.
To make the hedgehog
1) Take your piece of dough and shape in to a round.
2) Pinch one end of the round to make the hedgehog’s nose.
3) Take a pair of scissors and make snips in the dough. This will make the hedgehog’s spikes
4) Use a couple of cloves for the eyes.
6) Place the shaped pieces of dough on a lined baking tray and leave for another 30 min to rise.
7) If you want the dough to have a sheen brush the top of the dough with beaten egg.
8) Bake at 220°c for 15-20 minutes until bread is risen and golden.
Jules
I am making these with Charlie and Max asap! Love them. Ingenious. x
Oh Holly please do. Take a photo and I’ll show my pupils!
Brilliant Jules, that is excellent :)
Thank you Jac.
Just showed these to my daughter who loved them, so I expect she’ll be making animal rolls the next time she makes bread! Didn’t realise you taught cookery - fab job, my home-ec teacher was my biggest inspiration!
If you do make them you must send me a photo. I run a food education business so teach, write & talk about food for my job. My main area of specialism is working with children, but I also work with adults.
The end results look so cute!
Thank you Claire.
What fun Jules! I wish I could do bread with my children but we only have a 75 minute class each week. Such a good idea!
Yes I have a similar problem in my term time lessons. My alternative when pushed for time is to use this recipe http://appleandthyme.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/saturn-tomato-basil-rolls/
They’re great - I would never have thought to make little animals and hadn’t thought how many different ones you could make!
The limit is your imagination.
These are fab Jules! I love the little hedgehog.
Thank you Helen.
Your rolls are fantastic and I am loving how creative you are with your choices of recipes and how to make them appeal to the young children. If I had to choose one thing to teach in cookery, it would always be bread as the satisfaction and confidence it gives the learners is unbeatable!
I agree. It’s just a shame that in the majority of lessons there isn’t the time to teach bread properly.
Hi Jules! Your blog is very nice!! These bread are very yummy!! :)
Have a nice day !
Noemi
An Italian food blogger
http://www.nelly-bacididama.blogspot.it
Hi Noemi, I’m glad you like them.